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Contact: Public Affairs Office, 360-565-3005
Port Angeles, Wash. – The environmental analysis for the US 101 Elwha River Bridge Replacement Downstream Mitigation is complete and a Finding of No Significant Impact has been released. The document is publicly available at: ParkPlanning - US 101 Elwha Bridge Replacement Downstream Mitigation (nps.gov).
The environmental assessment analyzed a proposal to construct 12 engineered log jams - structures designed to mimic natural river dynamics - to mitigate impacts from the U.S. 101 Elwha River Bridge Replacement Project.
The engineered log jams will also mitigate impacts from emergency scour countermeasures constructed in 2016 and 2017. This compensatory mitigation is required per consultation with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, under asserted treaty rights, and with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in accordance with Clean Water Act requirements.
In 2023, the Washington State Department of Transportation began replacing the almost 100-year-old bridge. The project proponents, the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, obtained a Highway Easement Deed from the Department of Interior to conduct this work on lands temporarily administered by Olympic National Park. Now that this Environmental Assessment is finalized, the current approved Highway Easement Deed for bridge construction will be modified to include the engineered log jam mitigation.
The document will be posted for a 30-day public viewing period. More information about this project is available on the Planning, Environment and Public Comment website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/WSDOTELJ
Last updated: March 7, 2024