NPS photo
Cones and seeds from Elwha area trees were collected for use in growing new plants to revegetate the valley after dam removal.
Overview:
The Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams currently impound Lake Aldwell and Lake Mills, respectively. Removal of the dams will begin with slowly draining the reservoirs so that the dams can be removed. Once the reservoirs have been emptied and the dams removed, the river will be restored to its original channel and the land currently inundated by the reservoirs will be exposed.
The purpose of the revegetation plan is to restore this newly re-exposed land with native plants.
Objectives:
- Restore ecosystem to conditions and processes found prior to dam construction (including representative community types, species composition, plant density, and overall structure).
- Replant native riparian and upland vegetation for erosion control.
- In active river channel, allow revegetation to occur naturally by wind and waterborne seed and rooting of woody debris.
- Minimize invasion of nonnative plant species.
- Thoroughly monitor the restoration to permit future evaluation.
Plant Propagation:
Over the course of several years and collection efforts, over 120 bushels of cones have been collected, including those of Douglas-fir, grand fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock. The cones have been kept in cold storage at a commercial processing facility until revegetation work begins. Seeds and cuttings, including those from shrubs, herbs, and graminoids, have also been collected.
