"Today is June 1, the first day of National Rivers Month — and we have some especially fitting news to share.

After a decades-long effort to restore a healthy, free-flowing Elwha River, the hydropower generators at the river's two dams are being turned off in preparation for dam removal this September.

The Elwha River on Washington's Olympic Peninsula has been dammed for nearly 100 years. Removing the dams will revive the river's legendary salmon runs, restore vital aspects of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s culture, and revitalize the ecosystem in Olympic National Park, from mountains to sea.

This is a symbolic day. The generators may be powering down, but the river is about to power up. "

Get the Story:
Elwha Generators Power Down, River Powers Up! (American Rivers 6/1)

Also Today:
Sites begin to power down for Elwha dam removal (AP 5/31)
Two Elwha River dams unplugged on Wednesday (The Seattle Times 6/1)