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Coastal and Lower Elwha River, Washington, Prior to Dam Removal—History, Status, 1 and Defining Characteristics

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Coastal and Lower Elwha River, Washington, Prior to Dam Removal—History, Status, 1 and Defining Characteristics Chapter Coastal and Lower Elwha River, Washington, Prior to Dam Removal—History, Status, 1 and Defining Characteristics By Jeffrey J. Duda, Jonathan A. Warrick, and Christopher S. Magirl Abstract Characterizing the physical and and are currently in low numbers. Dam biological characteristics of the removal will reopen access to more lower Elwha River, its estuary, and than 140 km of mainstem, flood plain, adjacent nearshore habitats prior to and tributary habitat, most of which dam removal is essential to monitor is protected within Olympic National changes to these areas during and Park. The high capture rate of river- following the historic dam-removal borne sediments by the two reservoirs project set to begin in September has changed the geomorphology of 2011. Based on the size of the two the riverbed downstream of the dams. hydroelectric projects and the amount Mobilization and downstream transport of sediment that will be released, the of these accumulated reservoir Elwha River in Washington State will sediments during and following dam be home to the largest river restoration removal will significantly change through dam removal attempted in downstream river reaches, the the United States. Built in 1912 and estuary complex, and the nearshore 1927, respectively, the Elwha and environment. To introduce the more Glines Canyon Dams have altered key detailed studies that follow in this physical and biological characteristics report, we summarize many of the key of the Elwha River. Once abundant aspects of the Elwha River ecosystem salmon populations, consisting of including a regional and historical all five species of Pacific salmon, context for this unprecedented project. are restricted to the lower 7.8 river kilometers downstream of Elwha Dam Chapter 1 2 Coastal Habitats of the Elwha River, Washington—Biological and Physical Patterns and Processes Prior to Dam Removal Introduction inputs (such as sediment, nutrients, and Puget Sound ecosystems, with the goal freshwater), and local and large-scale of developing research efforts focused Coastal environments are climatological forcings (Moore and on priorities identified by stakeholders, among the most important ecological others, 2008). The diverse biological management agencies, and the public components of Puget Sound, a communities present in these areas also for the restoration and preservation of large fjord-estuary in northwestern have complex responses, interactions, Puget Sound (Gelfenbaum and others, Washington State. The more than and feedbacks with these physical 2006). To date, MD-CHIPS science 3,000 km of Puget Sound shoreline is factors. Added to this natural physical has focused on three areas: (1) the classified into a diverse array of forms and biological variability are human effects of urbanization on nearshore according to geologic, oceanographic, influences that have dramatically altered ecosystems, (2) restoration of large and anthropogenic features (Shipman, the amount, quality, and distribution of river deltas, and (3) the recovery of 2008). Common forms include rocky estuarine habitats throughout the region nearshore ecosystems (U.S. Geological coasts, beaches, bluffs, embayments, (Collins and Sheikh, 2005; Todd and Survey, 2006). This report summarizes and deltas. Puget Sound and the others, 2006). Reconstructions of the the research and monitoring activities Georgia Basin are part of the Salish distribution and size of historical coastal of MD-CHIPS scientists and partners Sea (fig. 1.1), which is fed by rivers habitats, compared with their current relating to the Elwha River restoration in the Cascade Range and Olympic condition, show a dramatic reduction in project. Mountains. These rivers carry melt the amount of river-mouth estuarine and The Elwha River flows northward water from glaciers, snowmelt, and local wetland habitat, approaching more than from the heart of the Olympic rainfall. This inland marine water body 95 percent loss in some areas. A suite of Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca is connected to the Pacific Ocean by human drivers, which include industrial west of Port Angeles, Washington. The the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the west and non-point source pollution, resource Elwha River restoration involves the and the Strait of Georgia to the north. extraction, recreation, and development largest dam removal project to date Characterized by a relatively young affect the remaining estuarine wetlands. in the United States and provides the tectonic- and glacier-influenced geology, Nevertheless, the intact estuarine unprecedented opportunity to study spatially variable oceanography, and habitats play an important role in the the ecological effects of dams and the unevenly distributed levels of urban and life history of many species, especially removal of these dams as an ecosystem anthropogenic impacts, Puget Sound is juvenile salmonids, because these restoration technique (Hart and others, home to a diverse array of biological young fish reside in river-mouth 2002; Duda and others, 2008). Although communities and charismatic species estuaries during their migration from characterized as a restoration project, (Buchanan, 2006; Dethier, 2006; Kriete, freshwater rearing areas to the sea many of the ecosystem responses and 2007; Mumford, 2007; Penttila, 2007; (Beamer and others, 2003; Fresh, 2006). trajectories following dam removal Strickland, 1983). The regions where Estuarine habitats are believed to offer may be novel and precisely predicting rivers flowing into Puget Sound meet more protection from predation and ecological outcomes is challenging. salt water (sub-estuaries within the higher growth potential compared to Thus, it is imperative that this greater Puget Sound fjord-estuary) alternative nearshore habitats. Exposure restoration project is monitored and are an especially important habitat of the juvenile salmonids to estuarine studied closely, so that ecosystem type, particularly for salmon, an iconic salinity gradients also facilitates their responses can be characterized and natural, cultural, and economic symbol physiological transition from freshwater predictive techniques can be advanced. for the region (Simenstad and others, to salt water. The MD-CHIPS project was developed 1982). Recently, there has been increased to characterize the physical and As an interface between fresh focus on restoring Puget Sound biological characteristics of the Lower and salt waters, river-mouth estuaries ecosystems and these efforts have Elwha River, its estuary, and nearshore and their surrounding habitats are highlighted the estuarine ecosystems’ habitats prior to dam removal with the among the most productive and capacity to support biodiversity, understanding that these characteristics biologically rich ecosystems on Earth commerce, and recreational would provide important baseline (Goldman and Horne, 1983; Keddy, opportunities, despite various impacts conditions for comparisons following 2000). The river-mouth estuaries of and threats to overall system health dam removal. To introduce the more Puget sound are both dynamic and (Puget Sound Partnership, 2009). The detailed studies that follow in this complex because they are influenced U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) multi- report, many of the key aspects of the by physical forcings from the Pacific disciplinary Coastal Habitats in Puget Elwha River ecosystem are summarized Ocean (such as wave action, currents, Sound (MD-CHIPS) initiative was here including a regional and historical and upwelling of nutrients), seasonally developed to promote interdisciplinary context for this unprecedented project. and annually varying levels of river collaboration among scientists studying Coastal and Lower Elwha River, Washington, Prior to Dam Removal—History, Status, and Defining Characteristics 3 Figure 1.1. The Salish Sea, which includes the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Peninsula, Washington and British Columbia, Canada. (Used with permission [Freelan, 2009]) Chapter 1 4 Coastal Habitats of the Elwha River, Washington—Biological and Physical Patterns and Processes Prior to Dam Removal Elwha River Dam Removal and River Puget Sound region. Moreover, the Elwha River restoration Restoration Project project will be the largest dam-decommissioning project in the history of the United States in terms of the projected release The Elwha River, on the Olympic Peninsula of of sediment and the size of the existing hydroelectric projects. Washington State, offers a unique opportunity for restoration Decommissioning will involve simultaneous removal of the because 83 percent of the watershed lies within Olympic Elwha Dam (32 m high, constructed from 1910 to 1913 at National Park (ONP), a World Heritage site (accessed river kilometer [RKm] 7.9; fig. 1.3) and Glines Canyon Dam March 12, 2011, at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list) and (64 m high, completed in 1927 at RKm 21.6; fig. 1.4). These International Biosphere Reserve (United Nations Educational, actions offer the unique opportunity to assess the effectiveness Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2010; fig. 1.2). of a large dam removal in restoring the watershed and Restoration of the Elwha River was congressionally mandated recovering and salmon populations. The upper Glines Canyon by The Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act Dam and its reservoir Lake Mills are in the National Park, (Public Law 102-495) and represents the single largest river- whereas the lower Elwha Dam and its reservoir Lake
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