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Science partnership between U.S. Geological Survey and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe—Understanding the Elwha River Dam Removal Project

Fact Sheet 2018-3025
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20183025

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Abstract

After nearly a century of producing power, two large hydroelectric dams on the Elwha River in Washington State were removed during 2011 to 2014 to restore the river ecosystem and recover imperiled salmon populations. Roughly two-thirds of the 21 million cubic meters of sediment—enough to fill nearly 2 million dump trucks—contained behind the dams was released downstream, which restored natural processes and initiated important changes to the river, estuarine, and marine ecosystems. A multidisciplinary team of scientists from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, academia, non-governmental organizations, Federal and state agencies, and the U.S. Geological Survey collected key data before, during, and after dam removal to understand the outcomes of this historic project on the Elwha River ecosystem.

Suggested Citation

Duda, J.J., Beirne, M.M., Warrick, J.A., and Magirl, C.S., 2018, Science partnership between U.S. Geological Survey and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe—Understanding the Elwha River Dam Removal Project: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2018–3025, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20183025.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • The Elwha River Dam Removal and Ecosystem Restoration Project
  • USGS—Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Science Partnership
  • Key Lessons Learned So Far
  • Estuary—Physical
  • River Sedimentation
  • Estuary—Biological
  • Coastal—Physical
  • Coastal—Biological
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Science partnership between U.S. Geological Survey and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe—Understanding the Elwha River Dam Removal Project
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2018-3025
DOI 10.3133/fs20183025
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Western Fisheries Research Center
Description 4 p.
Country United States
State Washington
Other Geospatial Elwha River Dam
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details