Environment | National

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe sees benefits from removal of dams






The Elwha Dam in Washington in September 2011, before removal. Photo by Ben Cody via Wikipedia

More water, more salmon and even more dirt are some of the benefits being seen by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe of Washington and the federal government following the removal of two dams.

After nearly 100 years of operation, the Elwha Dam came down in 2012. The Glines Canyon Dam, which ran for 87 years, was removed two years later.

The tribe immediately saw benefits. Just a few months after the first dam was breached, salmon started returning to areas of the Elwha River where they hadn't been seen in more than a century.


The same area in May 2013, after the removal of the Elwha Dam. Photo by Zandcee via Wikipedia

Beaches also have been created from sediment that was being held behind both dams. Some 5 million cubic yards of sand have returned to the river, The New York Times reported.

“Walking on this new land form that extends hundreds of meters toward the sea and changes every day — it’s fantastic,” Jonathan Warrick of the U.S. Geological Survey told the paper. “It blows your mind.”

The removal of the Elwha Dam was the largest project of its kind in U.S. history, according to the National Park Service.

Get the Story:
When Dams Come Down, Salmon and Sand Can Prosper (The New York Times 8/11)

Related Stories:
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe runs into opposition to fish hatchery (04/22)
Opinion: Removal of dam benefits Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (05/08)
National Parks: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe hails salmon return (10/03)
KUOW: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe working to restore fish runs (05/09)
Editorial: Hydropower as important as salmon for Northwest (08/22)
Outside: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe seeing a return of salmon (08/22)
People's World: Hopes soar as dams removed on Elwha River (08/13)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe awaiting return of more fish on river (08/03)
Opinion: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe fought for removal of dams (7/27)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe finds quick return of salmon to river (7/12)
KUOW: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe works to restore salmon runs (06/05)
Editorial: Temporary truce with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (03/06)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to decommission old fish hatchery (02/06)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe working to restore salmon runs (01/30)
Alternet: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe welcomes removal of dams (01/05)

Join the Conversation