Sign-up for News and Alerts
Elwha River Dam Removal to Make History this Saturday
September 13, 2011 | Dams & Dam Removal, Restoring Rivers
Amy Souers Kober
Senior Director of Communications
We’re making history this Saturday. That’s when the biggest dam removal ever begins on Washington’s Elwha River.
It’s a major river restoration effort, and the world will be watching. It isn’t every day we get to celebrate a success like this. But starting Saturday, we’ll get to witness a river coming back to life before our eyes.
This isn’t just about tearing down a couple old dams. It’s about restoring the soul of this river, and the culture of a people.
Here’s a quick Q&A to help you appreciate why this river restoration effort, during The Year of the River, is so special.
Where is the Elwha River?
The Elwha River is in the northwest corner of Washington state. The river flows from the heart of Olympic National Park to the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Puget Sound.
Why is the Elwha River special?
Eighty percent of the river is protected within the park, so most of it is wild and pristine. The river was once home to all five species of Pacific salmon and has been home to the Klallam people for millennia.
How have the dams harmed the river?
There are two dams on the river – Elwha Dam (108 feet tall, built in 1913 just five miles from the river’s mouth) and Glines Canyon Dam (210 feet tall, built in 1927, several miles upstream of Elwha Dam). Both dams were built without fish passage, and completely blocked salmon from historic habitat.
Why is the Elwha dam removal significant?
This is the world’s biggest dam removal, and one of biggest and most significant river restoration efforts. We will see a river coming back to life, with great benefits for salmon runs, the tribe and community. The lessons we learn on the Elwha can inspire other river restoration efforts around the country.
How will the dams be removed?
The dams will be removed gradually, over the course of 2.5 to 3 years.
What role has American Rivers played in the Elwha dam removal?
Many people and groups, including the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, have worked for decades to restore the Elwha. American Rivers has advocated for dam removal on the Elwha for more than 25 years. We intervened in the relicensing proceedings early on, and challenged the relicensing of a dam in a national park. We helped move forward the 1992 legislation that authorized dam removal. More recently, American Rivers helped secure more than $50 million in federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the Elwha River restoration project.
What are the benefits of removing these two dams?
Dam removal will restore the river, from mountains to sea, opening access to more than 70 miles of salmon habitat. Salmon runs will grow from 3,000 (current) to more than 300,000 a year. The entire web of life will benefit, from black bears to tiny insects to orca whales (137 different species depend on salmon).
The lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, whose reservation is at the mouth of the river and who depends on the salmon runs, will have a significant piece of its culture restored.
Dam removal and river restoration will bring hundreds of millions of dollars of economic benefits to the community, from restored fisheries to recreation and tourism.
Will any electricity be lost as a result of dam removal?
The amount of electricity generated by the dams (about 19 megawatts) is minimal compared to both the region's needs and its power production capacity. The dams provide power equal to about one half the energy needs of just one local company, the Nippon Paper Industries mill. The mill is currently receiving all of its power from the City of Port Angeles via the regional electrical grid. The mill is seeking to construct a power facility at the mill that would exceed the amount of power the two dams produce on average.
Will the Elwha dam removal help spur other dam removal and river restoration efforts?
Every dam removal is different, but common lessons can be learned about the best ways to make it work for the river and community. The dam removal and river restoration effort on the Elwha should inspire restoration efforts on other rivers in the region and across the country. When communities see the benefits on the Elwha, they will ask questions about their own rivers and hopefully work toward their own restoration efforts.
Post a Comment
Comment Policy: Our goal is to provide a forum for sharing and interacting with others about issues that are affecting our rivers and our clean water. All comments offered in the spirit of civil conversation are welcome! Commercial spam, obscenity and other rude behavior are not, and will be removed.
Related Information
BLOG POSTS
Tell Congress Missouri River Restoration = Flood Protection (05/23/12)
Two Cheers For The Hooch! (05/22/12)
LIBRARY
The Multiple Benefits of Floodplain Easements (06/22/11)
PRESS RELEASES
American Rivers and EPA award $300,000 grant to protect and restore forests in West Virginia (04/12/12)
Comments List
Submitted by UK Rivers Network at: September 17, 2011
Reblogged by the UK Rivers Network: "American Rivers and the other members of the US dam-busting movement mark a huge milestone this weekend with the the biggest ever dam removal (to date) on Washington's Elwha River. Congratulations to you all for your excellent work over many, many years!"
Submitted by Mark B at: September 16, 2011
As a Washingtonian, I am SO pleased that this monumental, literally earth-shaking event is occuring in our beloved Olympic National Park. A very long time coming, what an earlier generation wrought, this one will right.
Submitted by greg t at: September 16, 2011
as a resident of the olympic pennisula, i have been watching and waiting as this hisotric events began unfolding. there already are hundreds of thousands of native plants being propogated for the rehabilitation of the soon to be exposed river deltas. i have never seen such care being taken to insure only species native to this specific drainage are introduced. bravo to dave and the volunteers at the nursery. the only dark side has to do with the Lower Elwha S'Klallam tribe and their stated plans to introduce out of basin, DNA altered, hatchery zombie anadramous fish. why anyone would permit this tradgedy to proceed is beyond logic. NOAA, the NPS and WDFW have all turned a blind eye and that on top of no Environmental Impact Statement as these are all ESA listed stocks. sort of like snatching victory and stuffing it into the jaws of defeat, a complete travesty about to unfold.
Submitted by greg thomas at: September 16, 2011
this is happenning in my 'backyard' and i can't tell you how wonderful it is to see those dams coming down. there is already a large nursery carefully selecting native plantings which will be place, by hand, on the various exposed deltas in an attempt to keep native plants within this river drainage. unfortunately, the Lower Elwha S'Kallam tribe already has major plans to stock this river with out of basin DNA alterned zombie hatchery andaramous fish. how they think they have a right to polute this river in order to make a few bucks is beyond belief. and all of this on top of no Environmental Impact statement for these ESA listed stocks and right in front of the collective noses of NOAA, NPS and our own WDFW. shame on the tribe for their lack of fore thought. shame on the tribe for their ignoring restoration in a responsible way.
Submitted by Al McClain at: September 15, 2011
Congratulations on your success, your hard work, and your persistence!
Submitted by Elizabeth R at: September 15, 2011
Great news. All the best to ALL living creatures in the area. Hope it all goes smoothly.
Submitted by john levings at: September 14, 2011
Free at Last, Free at Last - Thank God Free at Last! - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Submitted by Thomas Lee Boles at: September 14, 2011
When does this happen at Hetch Hetchy? That's in a national Park too: Yosemite. It has been called "the Alamo of the conservation movement." It was excused with the fable that the water would have prevented the fires that followed the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Actually there was already plenty of water, but the quake broke all the pipes.
Submitted by Lynn at: September 14, 2011
It will be interesting to see if the salmon come back quickly to this river. No doubt they are trained to travel other rivers now over the many years.
Submitted by Berklee Lowrey-Evans at: September 14, 2011
Congratulations to the Klallam Tribe, American Rivers, and everyone who has worked hard to make this success a reality. The restoration of the Elwha River will stand as an example not just for the US, but for the entire world, since many developing countries are experiencing a new dam-building boom. Together, we can help protect and restore rivers and communities around the world. -Berklee Lowrey-Evans Latin America Program Associate International Rivers www.internationalrivers.org
Submitted by Pilar Pablo at: September 14, 2011
Congratulations I hope we will learn with your example
Submitted by Alison Jones at: September 14, 2011
No Water No Life looks forward to being there and documenting this great example of sustainable management of our natural resources. It should be an inspiration globally!
Submitted by Archie at: September 14, 2011
Good luck with this - we in the UK will be watching closely as our Government is still trying to build new dams and hydropower so your examples are key to our efforts to reopen and reconnect rivers! @theriverstrust www.theriverstrust.org
Submitted by April McEwen at: September 13, 2011
That's so awesome! I'm having a dam removal party tonight! So proud of you girls!
Submitted by Ellie at: September 13, 2011
Fantastic! At long last! Well done! I am so happy to see it finally happening! HOORAY!!!!
Submitted by Yoggik at: September 13, 2011
It's about time! We need to learn that the law of the land is governed by the land, not the law. Good luck Elwha, Klallam tribe, and those who believe.
Submitted by yehudis at: September 13, 2011
hooray!
Submitted by Mauricio Fierro at: September 13, 2011
Wonderful news - I send a big "congratulation to all " from Puelo River basin at North Patagonia - Chile
Submitted by Christina Pacosz at: September 13, 2011
I lived on the Olympic Peninsula and remember the Elwha River. May her home waters free at last rise to meet her long lost children.
Submitted by Glenn Kramer at: September 13, 2011
Thanks to your perseverance and dedication, the Elwha river is being restored. The entire country owes you a debt of graditude.