News Release

Olympic National Park seeks public input on Elwha Bridge replacement environmental assessment 

Date: October 19, 2023
Contact: Public Affairs Office, 360-565-3005

Port Angeles, Wash. - Olympic National Park is seeking public input on an environmental assessment that proposes to construct 12 engineered log jams - structures designed to mimic natural river dynamics - to mitigate impacts from the construction of the U.S. 101 Elwha River Bridge. 

Earlier this year, the Washington State Department of Transportation began construction to replace the almost 100-year-old bridge.  

Construction of these engineered log jams is required as compensatory mitigation, 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.   

A portion of the project is being constructed on lands temporarily administered by Olympic National Park. These lands are not within the established park boundary.  

More information about this project is available on the Planning, Environment and Public Comment website: ParkPlanning - US 101 Elwha Bridge Replacement Downstream Mitigation (nps.gov). Click "Open for Comment" and follow the links to review the document and submit a comment. 

Comments will be accepted October 22 through November 22, 2023. There are no scheduled public meetings. Comments will not be accepted by phone or email. 

The information obtained during this public review period will be used to make any final edits to the environmental assessment. The decision document for this environmental assessment is anticipated to be released this winter.   

Comments can also be mailed or hand-delivered to:  

Olympic National Park 

Attn: Superintendent Sula Jacobs, WSDOT ELJ EA  

600 East Park Avenue 

Port Angeles, Washington 98362 

Please note that the entire comment—including personally identifiable information such as addresses, phone numbers, and e-mails—may become publicly available at any time pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. Comments submitted by individuals or organizations on behalf of other individuals or organizations will not be accepted.