| Abstract: | Starting in September 2011, the removal of two large dams on the Elwha River will begin an unprecedented river restoration project because of the size of the dams, the volume of sediment released, the pristine watershed upstream of the dam sites, and the potential for renewing salmon populations. Ecosystem studies of the Elwha watershed indicate that the effects of almost 100 years of damming are measurable and of consequence. These effects include smaller spawning salmon populations, massive sediment retention behind the dams, coarsening of the riverbed downstream of the dams, low nutrient concentrations in the river waters, and coastal erosion that has accelerated markedly with time. During
and after the removal of these dams, the Elwha River and its ecosystems will be altered by a renewal of sediment discharge downstream of the dams and a reintroduction of salmon spawning upstream of the dams. This chapter summarizes the pre-dam and current state of the river and its coastal ecosystems, and describes the likely outcomes of river restoration on the Elwha River ecosystems. |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 70042252 |
| Citation Author: | Gelfenbaum, Guy ; Duda, Jeffrey J.; Warrick, Jonathan A. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Western Fisheries Research Center |
| Citation Datum: | |
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| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | Duda, Jeffrey J.; Warrick, Jonathan A.; Magirl, Christopher S. |
| Citation End Page: | 266 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Coastal habitats of the Elwha River, Washington--biological and physical patterns and processes prior to dam removal (SIR 2011-5120) |
| Citation LatN: | 47.9652 |
| Citation LatS: | 47.794 |
| Citation LonE: | -123.448 |
| Citation LonW: | -123.5832 |
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| Citation No Pagination: | |
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| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | 18 p. |
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| Citation Public Comments: | This report is Chapter 9 in Coastal habitats of the Elwha River, Washington--biological and physical patterns and processes prior to dam removal. For more information, see: Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5120 |
| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Citation Series: | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Citation Series Code: | SIR |
| Citation Series Number: | 2011-5120-9 |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Summary and anticipated responses to Elwha River dam removal: Chapter 9 in Coastal habitats of the Elwha River, Washington--biological and physical patterns and processes prior to dam removal; 2011; SIR; 2011-5120-9; Coastal habitats of the Elwha River, Washington--biological and physical patterns and processes prior to dam removal (SIR 2011-5120); Gelfenbaum, Guy ; Duda, Jeffrey J.; Warrick, Jonathan A. |
| Citation Start Page: | 249 |
| Citation Volume: | |
| Citation Year: | 2011 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Summary and anticipated responses to Elwha River dam removal: Chapter 9 in Coastal habitats of the Elwha River, Washington--biological and physical patterns and processes prior to dam removal; 2011; SIR; 2011-5120-9; Coastal habitats of the Elwha River, Washington--biological and physical patterns and processes prior to dam removal (SIR 2011-5120); Gelfenbaum, Guy ; Duda, Jeffrey J.; Warrick, Jonathan A. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/usgs_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5120/pdf/sir20115120_ch9.pdf |
| Date Other: | Sun, 1 Jan 2012 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey |
