Scientists Measure What Dams Have Done to the Elwha

The Elwha River flows from the heart of the Olympic Mountains north to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. But unlike other rivers on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, you won't find any salmon beyond the first five miles of the Elwha because it's been dammed for almost 100 years. Big change is coming to the Elwha, though, when the world's biggest dam removal begins there next month.

For nearly a decade a team of scientists, lead by NOAA Fisheries Biologist George Pess, have been gathering baseline data on the Elwha in order to show how the two massive dams have altered the river's ecology.

These researchers plan to continue to monitor the river in the coming years after the dams are removed to show how the river recovers.

Produced by Katie Campbell for EarthFix at KCTS 9 in Seattle.

Check out the full series of web features:

Undamming the Elwha
http://earthfix.us/kcts9-elwha

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Elwha
• Elwha River
• dams
• dam removal
• salmon
• fish
• conservation
• Olympic National Park
• Glines Canyon Dam
• Elwha Dam
• NOAA