The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe of Washington says salmon have returned to the Elwha River sooner than expected.

The tribe long advocated for the removal of dams along the river. The work has already paid off even though the $325 million project only recently started.

“We’re wildly excited,” Mike McHenry, the tribe's fish habitat manager, told the Associated Press. “It just confirms what we have known all along — that these fish are quite capable of recolonizing the Elwha once we get the dams out of the way.”

The salmon are able to make it to parts of the river that were blocked by one of two dams.

Get the Story:
With 1 of 2 massive concrete dams demolished, fish begin return to Washington’s Elwha River (AP 7/11)

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)
HCN Blog: Fish fight brews with removal of Elwha River dams (10/03)
National Parks: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe hails dam removal (09/30)
National Parks: Webcam offers a view of historic dam removal (9/26)
Editorial: Removal of dams a step towards return of Elwha River (9/19)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe praises start of dam breaching work (09/15)
National Parks: Secretary Salazar to celebrate removal of dam (9/14)