Prepared by: 130 species of aquatic National Parks Conservation Association and terrestrial wildlife Protecting parks for future generations ® feed on, or derive their NPCA life-giving nutrients ® 313-A First Avenue South from, salmon carcasses. Seattle, 98104 www.npca.org (206) 903-1444

Thanks to support from: The Elwha and Glines Canyon , both built http://fdncenter.org/grantmaker/ferguson/ without fish passages, www.americanrivers.org prevent salmon from returning to their traditional spawning beds. A vital link in www.drizzle.com/~rdpayne/opa.html the lifeline of this ecosystem, © Art Wolfe Chinook, coho, pink, chum and sockeye salmon all used to swim up the Elwha to NPS www.hydroreform.org www.cascade.sierraclub.org spawn, some weighing up to 100 pounds. Once the largest producer of salmon on the Peninsula, today the Elwha’s salmon returns are Here Place Stamp closer to 4,000/year. The Valley suffers as a consequence. Cover and above photos courtesy of NPS Salmon eat other fish Certain plant and tree 1927: The Glines while in the ocean, and species, including Sitka Canyon and Elwha then return up the Elwha, Spruce, devil’s club and Dams are completed, The second largest transferring the riches of the fern, derive much nitro- blocking salmon from gen from salmon, and as swimming upstream. restoration project ever ocean into sustenance for a result, are often larger in the National Park 1992: Congress wildlife, forests, people, and near spawning sites. Service is happening the next generation of fish. orders Elwha ecosys- here in the Elwha River © Duncan Haas tem restoration Valley, where two 100-foot 2007: removal begins, and volunteers dams will be removed begin native plant to restore salmon to the revegetation. park. Experience the 2010: Biologists Elwha River, get up close reintroduce native and personal with Glines salmon to upper Congressman Norm Dicks Congressman c/o Association National Parks Conservation South Avenue 313-A First 98104 WA Seattle, Canyon Dam and the lake Elwha River. that has formed behind 2030: Healthy Elwha River Valley it, and explore the issues is restored! surrounding the dams and their impending removal. Directions: Visit the Elwha by entering Whisk Boulder Cr 3 at the Elwha River eek ey Stop #3: Any pullout Bend Road Valley entrance, located on Hwy 101. overlooking the Elwha (Note: Stop #1 is located on Hwy 101 River. (Possible stops include To Olympic the Elwha or Altair campgrounds.) before you reach the entrance.) Hot Springs The Elwha River that you are experiencing today is a salmon- U.S. Congressman Norm Dicks, 1 free zone. Only 70 years ago, Olympic National Park’s Glines Canyon Dam 4 Stop #1: Lake Aldwell Overlook. (Located on they were plentiful. A local representative, has championed Port Angeles resident, Dick Hwy101.) While Lake Aldwell may appear still and Elwha restoration over the last serene, there is actually a lot of activity occurring Goin, remembers a time when he was a child: “When I was a decade. It’s time to say thank you! as you gaze upon the lake. The 105-foot 3 Altair Elwha lad in the late ‘30s, there would harnesses the Elwha River for hydroelectric power, Ranger Campground Write a postcard today and tell creating Lake Aldwell. Built between 1910 and 1913 to Station be several hundred thousand Rep. Dicks that you appreciate his supply energy to the local community, the Elwha Dam salmon. From the mouth to the years of leadership and continued altered the ecosystem of the Elwha River Valley, turn dam and from bank to bank it Elwha was like maggots; it was just support of Elwha River restoration. ing a river ecosystem into a lake ecosystem. Similarly, N Campground NPCA the 210-foot Glines Canyon Dam was constructed crawling. You couldn’t see the 0 3 from 1925-1927, also blocking the river. How do these 0 stream bottoms.” dams touch the lives of animals, plants and humans Learn more at: in this valley? Continue your drive into the valley to 2 Entrance www.npca.org/field/northwest.asp explore their consequences. Station Park Boundary NPS

Olympic Hot Springs Rd. Elwha River

101 Little River Rd. 1 To 3 mi 4.83 km Lake Aldwell 101 To Port Angeles Neah Bay Victoria NPS AREA OF TOUR 113 112 Port Angeles The dams also prevent 101 Forks E

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R downstream--nearly . Olympic Photo courtesy of Olympic National Park/NPS eliminating all salmon National Brinnon Park spawning habitat below Stop #4: Glines Canyon Dam and Lake Mills. the dams. 101 4 N 101 (Parking available at the dam and lakeside.) To ensure the complete restoration of the Elwha River ecosys- 2 tem, in 1992 the U.S. Congress passed the Elwha River Stop #2: Elwha River Valley entrance. (Stop and pay Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act, which resulted your Park entrance fee. Proceed along the valley floor.) Welcome to in the removal of both the Glines Canyon and the Elwha the Elwha River Valley, a critical ecosystem that comprises 19% of Dams. Removal is scheduled to begin in 2007. Come Olympic National Park. As you drive, the flowing Elwha River to back to this site in a few years, and what you see now ...... your right appears much as it would have 100 years ago, cascading will be drastically altered. The dam will be gone; the lake

45 miles from the soaring Olympic peaks into the Strait of Juan de will be drained. The river will eventually be restored to ......

Fuca, nourishing the surrounding plant, animal, and human inhabiants its free-flowing state, from the Olympics to the Strait...... of the valley. The fish of the pristine waters of the Elwha have Return to this site in 30 years, and you may see salmon sustained the Klallam people for millennia, and today the river once again battling the untamed Elwha, nourishing this

© Duncan Haas Dicks, Dear Congressman your for to thank you like I’d National Park, As a visitor to Olympic that salmon I agree restoration. support River continued of Elwha your appreciate and truly to the Elwha, should once again return a reality. leadership in making restoration ...... Name Address Zip State, City, supplies the drinking water for the local Port Angeles community. ecosystem and the park . you Thank for your continued support of the Elwha!