Elwha Dam (WA) Removal Starts This Weekend

By: Thomas O’Keefe

The biggest dam removal in history begins September 17, 2011 on Washington’s Elwha River. Removing the two dams on the Elwha will restore a free-flowing river, abundant salmon runs, and deliver significant cultural, economic, and recreation benefits to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and surrounding communities.

American Whitewater is partnering with American Rivers and the Hydropower Reform Coalition on a series of four Year of the River episodes about the Elwha and White Salmon rivers. View Episode 1 below:

Year of the River: Episode 1 from Andy Maser on Vimeo.

A multi-day destination event, Celebrate Elwha, will be happening in Port Angeles, WA. For those in the Seattle area who can’t make the trip out, The Mountaineers will be broadcasting a live stream of the actual removal ceremony at the Mountaineers OutdoorsFest in Seattle from 11am to 1pm.