Elwha River Restoration

Dam removal began on the Elwha River in mid-September 2011. Today, Elwha Dam is gone, over fifty percent of Glines Canyon Dam has been removed, the Lake Mills and Lake Aldwell reservoirs have drained, and the Elwha River flows freely from its headwaters in the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca for the first time in 100 years. Dam Removal dam is scheduled to be complete by September 2014.

Start your exploration of this landmark project here, by watching our growing series of short web videos, reading the weekly Dam Removal Blog, checking project webcams and much more.

 

Restoration of the Elwha River Webisode Series
View a series of webisodes that chronicle the removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams. The webisodes begin with the history of the dams and continue through the dam deconstruction and ecosystem restoration process.

 

Download a copy of the 2013 Elwha River Restoration Brochure.

 

Elwha Closure Map
The Glines Canyon Dam site and Olympic Hot Springs Road are closed above Altair Campground to vehicle and pedestrian traffic until dam removal is complete.

The Elwha River and its tributaries within Olympic National Park are closed to all fishing. Boating is prohibited from Upper Lake Mills Trail to Altair Campground.

 

Elwha in the News
The Elwha River Restoration project has caught the attention of the local, national and international media. The print and broadcast media covering the story of the Elwha River Restoration have each brought a unique voice to the dynamic and complex story of this historic project. View a collection of publications and videos from media outlets covering the Elwha River Restoration here.

 

History of the Elwha
Discovery the history of the Elwha Valley from the glacial retreat to present day.

 

Photo Gallery of Elwha River Restoration
View a photo gallery of the Elwha River Restoration project, including the dam removal process.

 

This webpage was made possible in part by a grant from Washington's National Park Fund.