National Park Service Announces Recovery Act Projects; $57.8 million for Projects in Olympic National Park

Date: April 22, 2009
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005

The National Park Service (NPS) today announced nearly 800 projects totaling $750 million that can be completed across the country with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This major effort includes 14 projects in Olympic National Park.

“These projects are an investment in America’s future that will create jobs, stimulate the economies of local communities, and get our country moving again,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. “They are also an investment in telling the story of America to future generations through our national parks by conserving our awe-inspiring landscapes, our rich culture, and our great heritage.”

“Recovery Act funding gives us the exciting opportunity to move forward more quickly with one of this country’s largest and most significant conservation projects – restoring the Elwha River and ecosystem,” said Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin. “Not only will over 200 jobs be created in the next year, but dam removal will begin in 2011, one year earlier than projected.”

Projects within Olympic National Park are:

• $54.7 million to complete nine mitigation projects in preparation for removal of two dams on the Elwha River, the nation’s largest dam removal to date, and restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem. These mitigation projects will provide water quality protection, flood and wastewater system protection and a fish hatchery to protect fish stocks during dam removal and aid in fish restoration.
  
• $3.1 million for five additional high-priority projects in Olympic National Park, including:
• • Installation of new electrical cable in the conduit along the Hurricane Ridge Road to provide power to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. The new cable will replace the existing line along the Whiskey Bend Trail, within park wilderness.
  • Rehabilitation of the Boulder Creek trail and former automobile campground, by converting two miles of abandoned road to a trail, remove failing culverts, and restore the Boulder Creek campground.
  • Replacement of the aging sewer system at the Hoh Rain Forest, which serves the needs of the campground, picnic area, visitor center and employee housing area. The world-renowned Hoh Rain Forest receives approximately 150,000 visits each year.
  • Rehabilitation of four road bridges to ensure continued safe use of the bridges and comply with Federal Highway Administration recommendations. Two bridges are located along the Hoh Road, which provides access to the Hoh Rain Forest, one bridge is on the Camp David Junior Road along the north shore of Lake Crescent and on is on the Rialto Beach Road.
  • Replacement of deteriorated roofing on both historic and non-historic structures throughout the park.

“Each of these projects will help us better serve park visitors and better protect park resources for the future,” said Gustin.

All of the projects announced today are long-standing priorities of the National Park Service and meet the criteria put forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that a project addresses the Department’s highest priority mission needs; generates the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public. A full listing of National Park Service projects throughout the country is available at www.interior.gov/recovery/nps.

Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on the recovery web site and on www.interior.gov/recovery/nps.