Lake Youngs, reservoir in King County, Washington, USA

Lake Youngs is a 700-acre reservoir in King County, Washington, between Maple Valley and Renton, with a maximum depth of 72 feet. It was formed by enlarging the 548-acre Swan Lake; construction began in the early 1920s and was completed by 1926. The reservoir receives water from the Cedar River via pipelines, the most recent being the Bow Lake pipeline built in 1954, and is drained by Little Soos Creek.

The reservoir was constructed in the 1920s with work completed in 1926, replacing the earlier Swan Lake that covered about 548 acres. Dams at the south and east ends raised the water level and expanded storage capacity for the city's water needs.

The lake is named after L. B. Youngs, a longtime leader of Seattle's water department who passed away in 1923. The name reflects his role in shaping the city's water supply system.

The reservoir is not open for recreational activities such as swimming or boating since it is part of the city's water supply infrastructure. Visitors should stay on designated paths and respect the signs that remind people to protect the water system.

Lake Youngs serves as a visual checkpoint for pilots flying into and out of Renton Municipal Airport. The reservoir is drained by Little Soos Creek, and the most recent pipeline carrying Cedar River water to Seattle, the Bow Lake pipeline, was built in 1954.