Elwha River Restoration

Dam removal began on the Elwha River in mid-September 2011. Originally anticipated to be a two to three year process, removal proceeded quickly and by late spring 2012, the Elwha Dam was completely gone. Work on lowering the Glines Canyon dam is expected to be complete by summer 2013.

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 2012 Elwha River Restoration Brochure.

 

Elwha Closure Map
During dam removal, the sites of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams and lower sections of Lake Aldwell and Lake Mills are closed to all use.

The Elwha River and its tributaries within Olympic National Park are closed to all fishing. Boating is prohibited on the Elwha River from the Upper Lake Mills Trail downstream to the Highway 112 bridge, except for the stretch between Altair Campground and the Highway 101 bridge.

 

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.