Restoring River, Ocean, and Culture
A connection to explore information on the river, nearshore, and culture of the Elwha River restoration project. It provides photos of the river, background information, and links to information on the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
Cascading for 45 miles from glaciers in the Olympic mountains to the salt water of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Elwha River ecosystem is rich with history, lessons in science,
and habitat for a diverse web of life. Before 1910, the river ran
unobstructed with .... read full introduction.
See
photos of Olympic Park Institute students engaged in field studies and
various sites in the lower 20 miles, from the mouth of the river to the
rugged floodplain above the dams. Photos have been graciously donated
by Scott Church, Robert Lundahl and Jerda Smeltzer.
See the deconstruction of the Glines Canyon and Elwha Dam, through these amazing flash animations. Watch the dams come down and the forests return. There are also 2 interesting animations on the river's food web and nutrient cycles.
American Rivers has created visualizations that
depict the Elwha valley before, during, and after the dams. We have
extracted a series of movies and animations from the model landscape to
help illustrate how the reservoirs will drain, how vegetation will
return, and the Elwha River will be restored.
Connect to an Olympic National Park website that is filled with background information on the Elwha River restoration. This site includes: natural and cultural history information, an archive of past documents, photos, timeline and history, and sample curricula to share the project with your students.
With their reservation nestled next to the lower river, the Tribe continues to rely upon salmon and have played instrumental in the dam removal decision. Learn more about their important role in this restoration effort and region.
Supporting Local Education
