Sunday, June 12, 2011

The Removal of the Elwha Dams Begins...


For years, there have been discussions, political battles, and then planning for the removal of the Elwha River dams on the Olympic Peninsula. Built in the early 1900's, these dams blocked access for one of the largest salmon producing rivers in the Pacific Northwest for up to 65 miles of prime spawning habitat. This river is one of only two in the State of Washington (the Skagit River is the other) that contains all six species of Pacific Salmon (Chinook, coho, sockeye, chum, pink, and steelhead). The once huge salmon runs of up to 400,000 returning salmon are now down to under 3,000 in the lowest 5 miles of the river below the lower dam. You can read the entire article I wrote about it in 2008 on wikipedia here, when I was the Elwha Interpretive Ranger at Olympic National Park.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elwha_Ecosystem_Restoration

File:Elwha Dam.jpg
The dam before the opening of the spillways

Well, now the time is finally upon us, after numerous delays. The contracts have been written, the plans finalized, and the beginning of the end of these old and dangerous dams is here. Last week, they shut down the hydroelectric generators. Then, they opened the flood gates and spillways to full capacity to lower the level of the lakes in preparation for the actual removal later this summer. It is an amazing site to see so much water tumbling out of Lake Aldwell and the lake already down by around 15 feet.

Normally only a trickle came out from cracks in the old river channel

The old river channel was a 100 foot deep canyon that was blocked by the concrete wall. Today, water flows through at full force from the flood gates. Soon the river will flow in its original channel at the bottom of the cliffs.

The primary spillway is quite the cascade now!

They will close public access to Elwha Dam on July 1st and access to Glines Canyon Dam on August 1st. So, if you want to see these structures before their removal, you gotta go now. Then they will begin the preparatory process for removal, with actual demolition to begin around September 15th. It will take about 2.5 years to fully remove the dams and restore the river bed to its original state.

You can see the mud and old stumps that were under the lake


You can see the old concrete coffer dam here that redirected the river during original construction in 1912

When the original Elwha Dam blew out in 1910, they had to plug the holes with tons of gravel and fill. So, today there is a large hill of rock that will need to be removed. With the lake level down, you can now see the water flowing over the top of this fill almost like a river.

It almost looks like a river again already

It is going to be fascinating to watch the removal process via the webcams that will be set up by the National Park Service and then to visit the old lakebed in 2014 to see the river flowing free once again. It will take a long time for the vegetation to reestablish itself in the muddy lakebed. But, the salmon should start up the river almost immediately after removal. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to see salmon running up the river for the first time in 100 years!

9 comments:

Unknown said...

air max 90
tiffany and co
adidas outlet
cheap nhl jerseys
los angeles lakers jerseys
oakley sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
calvin klein outlet
san francisco 49ers jerseys
vans shoes
toms shoes
louis vuitton outlet
true religion jeans, http://www.truereligionoutletstore.us.com
air jordan shoes
abercrombie and fitch
cheap football shirts
manchester united jersey
ray ban
tods outlet
swarovski crystal
nike outlet store
replica watches
cartier love bracelet
koby bryant shoes
beats headphones
cheap oakley sunglasses
ed hardy clothing
air jordan 11
kansas city chiefs jerseys
nike air max uk
supra shoes
thomas sabo uk
ugg uk
oakley outlet
north face jackets
tiffany jewelry
cheap jordans
adidas shoes
oakley sunglasses
0803maoqiuyun

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

20150908 junda
michael kors
louboutin pas cher
coach outlet
coach factory outlet
soccer jerseys wholesale
ray ban sunglass
prada handbags
ugg australia
adidas uk
nike blazer
fitflops sale clearance
air force 1
longchamp outlet
jordan shoes
michael kors outlet online
new balance outlet
prada outlet
ugg boots sale
kate spade handbags
ray bans
adidas gazelle trainers
polo ralph lauren outlet
barbour uk
north face uk
michael kors handbags
ray ban outlet
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors uk
uggs outlet
ralph lauren uk
michael kors handbag
nike free run 5.0
oakley sunglasses sale
canada goose uk
toms wedges
cheap soccer shoes
coach outlet online
adidas shoes
oakley sunglasses wholesale
coach factory outlet

John said...

air max 95
ugg boots
adidas superstar
supra shoes
louboutin
air jordans
ugg boots clearance
ugg slippers
coach factory outlet
timberland boots
barbour uk
ghd hair straighteners
marc jacobs
nike roshe runs
tod's shoes
louis vuitton borse
nike huarache trainers
celine handbags
pandora jewelry
nike air max 90
toms shoes
tommy hilfiger outlet
gucci shoes
uggs boots on sale
gucci outlet
burberry outlet
kate spade uk
mcm outlet
juicy couture
ray ban outlet
kevin durant shoes
20151009yuanyuan

Unknown said...

ray ban,rayban,occhiali ray ban,ray-ban,ray ban occhiali,ray ban sunglasses
moncler jackets
denver broncos
mac cosmetics
oakley,occhiali oakley,oakley italia,oakley occhiali,oakley sunglasses
coach outlet online
ugg boots sale
prada outlet
michael kors outlet
oakland raiders
coach outlet online
oakley canada
mlb jerseys
puma outlet
ralph lauren,polo ralph lauren,ralph lauren outlet,ralph lauren italia,ralph lauren sito ufficiale
hollister clothing
green bay packers
ralph lauren polo
coach handbags outlet
swarovski crystal
1024minko

xumeiqing said...

151212meiqing
canada goose outlet
pandora jewelry
oakley sunglasses
oakley sunglasses
fitflops sale clearance
true religion
ray ban outlet
michael kors handbags
uggs on sale
ugg outlet
tods shoes
louis vuitton handbags
tory burch sale
canada goose
ugg boots
coach factory outlet
michael kors handbags
coach factory outlet
louis vuitton outlet
louis vuitton outlet stores
canada goose outlet
coach factory outlet
coach outlet online
michael kors bag
coach factory outlet
fake oakleys
adidas superstar
north face jackets
coach outlet online
cheap jordans
michael kors outlet stores
abercrombie
toms shoes
canada goose
abercrombie
ugg boots
louis vuitton
ralph lauren sale
abercrombie and fitch
abercrombie

xumeiqing said...

2060906meiqing
michael kors handbags
louboutin
rolex submariner
louis vuitton factory outlet
coach outlet store online
designer handbags
uggs outlet
ugg boots on sale
ugg outlet
michael kors handbags
coach outlet online
cheap nhl jerseys
michael kors outlet
pandora uk
omega watches
polo outlet
discount nike shoes
rolex watches for sale
oakley sunglasses outlet
ralph lauren outlet
christian louboutin shoes
true religion jeans
uggs
ugg sale
true religion jeans
burberry outlet online
michael kors outlet clearance
adidas nmd runner
adidas nmd r1
canada goose outlet
ugg australia outlet
nba jerseys
michael kors handbags
birkenstock sheos
canada goose jackets
canada goose outlet
christian louboutin sale

chenmeinv0 said...

ray ban aviators
christian louboutin
christian louboutin shoes
michael kors outlet
louboutin paris
new balance
ralph lauren uk
new balance sneakers
cat boots
coach factory online
2017.3.18xukaimin

Unknown said...

[url=http://www.abusinessplan.us]a business plan[/url]
[url=http://www.ahealthydietplan.us]a healthy diet plan[/url]
[url=http://www.anewsmagazine.us]a news magazine[/url]
[url=http://www.business401k.us]business 401k[/url]
[url=http://www.diyhomeimprovement.us]diy home improvement[/url]
[url=http://www.easyhomedeco.us]easy home deco[/url]
[url=http://www.educationmagazines.us]education magazines[/url]
[url=http://www.ehomeplans.us]e home plans[/url]
[url=http://www.financeforbusiness.us]finance for business[/url]
[url=http://www.financeplanner.us]finance planner[/url]
[url=http://www.financetheory.us]finance theory[/url]
[url=http://www.health-consult.us]health consult[/url]
[url=http://www.healthandglow.us]health and glow[/url]
[url=http://www.healthnfitness.us]health n fitness[/url]
[url=http://www.home-furnitures.us]home furnitures[/url]
[url=http://www.ladyjshopping.us]lady j shopping[/url]
[url=http://www.lawconsumer.us]law consumer[/url]
[url=http://www.loans4businesses.us]loans 4 businesses[/url]
[url=http://www.luxurytravelguide.us]luxury travel guide[/url]
[url=http://www.mensfashioncasual.us]mens fashion casual[/url]
[url=http://www.news4today.us]news 4 today[/url]
[url=http://www.newseeker.us]news seeker[/url]
[url=http://www.podeducation.us]pod education[/url]
[url=http://www.realestate-investments.us]realestate investments[/url]
[url=http://www.royalproperty.us]royal property[/url]
[url=http://www.shopping2cheap.us]shopping 2 cheap[/url]
[url=http://www.shoppingonabudget.us]shopping on a budget[/url]
[url=http://www.smartbusiness01.us]smart business 01[/url]
[url=http://www.sportsfusion.us]sports fusion[/url]
[url=http://www.sportslegend.us]sports legend[/url]
[url=http://www.technologynewstoday.us]technology news today[/url]
[url=http://www.thefashionstyles.us]the fashion styles[/url]
[url=http://www.topebusiness.us]top e business[/url]
[url=http://www.topeducations.us]top educations[/url]
[url=http://www.travelpro1.us]travel pro 1[/url]
[url=http://www.travelup.us]travel up[/url]
[url=http://www.urhomeinterior.us]ur home interior[/url]
[url=http://www.vacationsplan.us]vacations plan[/url]
[url=http://www.finance4trades.ca]finance 4 trades[/url]
[url=http://www.technologygrowth.ca]technology growth[/url]
[url=http://www.businessolution.ca]business solution[/url]
[url=http://www.homeimprovementhelp.ca]home improvement help[/url]
[url=http://www.travelleisure.ca]travel leisure[/url]
[url=http://www.4healthcare.ca]health care[/url]
[url=http://www.deluxfashion.ca]delux fashion[/url]
[url=http://www.businesscreditcardoffers.co.uk]business credit card offers[/url]

Unknown said...

cartier jewelry
kd shoes
fussball trikots
shoe carnival
michael kors handbags sale
lebron ambassador 10
prada sunglasses
stan smith
harden vol 2
juicy couture outlet
20188.06chenjinbei

Just Giving Back For All To Enjoy

Why pay money to buy hiking books? Why pay fees to view trail websites? By searching my archives and checking back often to see new posts, we are sure you will be able to find the hike that is right for you ... and for free!

In addition, we provide fascinating ecological and geological information to make the hikes informative and fun. As former National Park Rangers, we know how to find the right hike for you. So, if you are on vacation, we will provide you with the hike you absolutely MUST do while in an area. Do not go on vacation without checking out this site!