Project Duration
2021-present
Location
Clallam County, Washington
Background
The Elwha River runs from south to north on the Olympic
Peninsula, emptying into the Strait of Juan de Fuca at the Lower
Elwha Klallam Tribal Reservation near Port Angeles, WA. The upper
83% of the watershed lies in Olympic National Park.
Two dams were built on the river in 1913 and 1927, largely to
provide electricity for the local lumber and paper industry which
in the 21st century could be obtained elsewhere. Between 2011 and
2014 – driven by concerns over declining fish populations,
coastal erosion, and safety – these
dams were removed, marking the largest such dam removal and
watershed-level restoration project to date. The project
required extensive coordination between Tribal, agency,
academic, and non-governmental organization scientists (among
others). The removal of the dams is featured in the documentaries
“DamNation” and “Return of the River.”
The Elwha has undergone a remarkable restoration trajectory.
After dam removal, sediment previously held behind the dams
flowed downriver into the Strait of Juan de Fuca within months
(rather than years), 
forming
a delta at the rivermouth and extending available freshwater
habitat near Port Angeles. Several species of salmon and trout
quickly moved up past the dams to access traditional spawning
habitat, though some other species have yet to do so. Passive and active
revegetation efforts on the former reservoirs have led to a
community of well-established trees and other plants, providing habitat
and food for deer and elk, small mammals, and larger
predators like mountain lions.
The Elwha scientific community convened to discuss opportunities
for continued interdisciplinary research during the Elwha
ScienceScape’s virtual kick-off workshop in April 2022. We spoke
with the scientists leading the ScienceScape effort in the months
leading up to the virtual April 2022 workshop, learning about
existing and potential CCS projects. At their request,
researchers from the Center for Community and Citizen Science
facilitated conversations about the integration of community and
citizen science into plans for Elwha ScienceScape monitoring
activities held in September 2022.
We joined ScienceScape in September 2022 to learn about the Elwha
River’s first 10 dam-free years and to celebrate the successes of
these groundbreaking restoration projects, while also
recognizing ongoing areas for growth. We were also able to
join agency and tribal scientists and community groups to observe
(and participate in!) emerging participatory science
projects.
Funders
Resources Legacy
Partners
NOAA, USGS, Lower Elwha Clallum Tribe, NatureBridge
