Elwha River back in its natural channel; first time in a century

By Linda V. Mapes
Seattle Times

At 7:30 Friday morning, contractors started shifting the Elwha River back into its natural channel. Within four to five days, the river will be fully back in its native channel — for the first time in a century.

Within four to five weeks, the final draw down of Lake Aldwell, the reservoir behind Elwha Dam, will also be complete — and the dam, and its reservoir, will be history.

Contractors began taking down two dams on the Elwha River last September to restore the river and watershed.The restoration project is way ahead of schedule.

The two dams generated hydropower for the industrialization of the Olympic Peninsula, particularly the development of lumber, pulp, and paper mills. But the dams were built without fish passage. Read more