[Vision2020] NOAA: Largest Dam Removal in U.S. History Begins, Elwha River, Washington’s Olympic Peninsula

[Ted Moffett]

http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/hllargestdamremovelinushistory.html Largest Dam
Removal in U.S. History Begins With Help from NOAA September 21, 2011
.

This past weekend, work began on the biggest dam removals ever undertaken in
the United States. The Elwha River was once the largest producer of salmon
on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. But in the early 20th century, two dams
were built on the river, blocking fish passage. Before they were built,
salmon could swim more than 100 miles up the river to spawn. With the
construction of the dams, those fish now only have access to only five miles
of river—which has drastically reduced salmon populations in the area.

The Elwha Dam is more than 100 feet high, and the Glines Canyon Dam
stretches to 210 feet. Due to their size, and the massive amount of sediment
trapped behind them, the removals will be complex—taking two years to
complete. NOAA funded a series of restoration projects that helped prepare
the river and surrounding floodplain for the dramatic changes anticipated
when the dams are removed.

Through the Recovery Act we worked with our partner, the Lower Klallam Elwha
Tribe, to:

   - strategically place engineered log jams in the river, which increases
   channel complexity and  improves salmon habitat
   - remove abandoned flood control dikes to improve estuary and floodplain
   connectivity
   - plant native vegetation within the restored floodplain.

These activities will improve the habitat conditions of more than 80 acres
within the lower Elwha River. They will also help support the recovery of
salmon populations in the river—including Puget Sound Chinook salmon and
Puget Sound Steelhead, both listed as threatened under the Endangered
Species Act.

After the removals, salmon will have access to pristine habitat within the
Olympic National Park, free of the impacts from cities, factories, or
agriculture.
It is estimated that within 30 years, the river will produce 390,000 salmon
and steelhead each year. NOAA aims to continue to monitor the habitat
conditions within the river and the response of salmon to the restoration
efforts and dam removal.
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Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett
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