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Olympic National ParkRaccoons on the Olympic Wilderness Coast
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Olympic National Park
Historic Anadromous Fish Runs in the Elwha
 
The Elwha River

Scott Church

After restoration of the Elwha River is complete, the pristine waters have the potential of supplying optimum habitat for the thousands of salmonids that return each year. 

Historical Range:
Before construction of the dams, native fish used the Elwha River and its diverse habitats for spawning. The inaccessibility created by the dams has seriously diminished all 10 native Elwha River anadromous fish runs, including all five types of Pacific salmon, as well as native char (bull trout and dolly varden), winter and summer-run steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat trout. In addition, sediment has been caught behind the dams, preventing gravel and debris from entering the lower 5 miles of the river, and thus rendering the available reaches practically unsuitable for the spawning of particular populations of native fish.

Historic Range Diagrams:
Bull trout
Chinook Salmon
Chum Salmon
Coho Salmon
Pink Salmon
Sockeye Salmon
Steelhead

Other Useful Links:
Map of the Elwha River Watershed
Potential Range after dam removal

 

 

 
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This webpage was made possible in part by a grant from Washington's National Park Fund.
A spawning coho salmon
Anadromous Fish
Info regarding identification, spawning, and conservation of anadromous fish in the park
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Migrating coho
The Salmon Life Cycle
Click here to learn more about the life cycle of Pacific salmon!
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View of the Elwha Valley  

Did You Know?
Did you know that in 1988, Congress designated 95% of Olympic National Park as Wilderness. The Olympic Wilderness is a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
more...

Last Updated: February 02, 2009 at 18:45 EST