National Parks: Webcam offers a view of historic dam removal


Webcam: Elwha River Restoration Project
"The largest dam removal project in U. S. history is now underway in and near Olympic National Park, and six new webcams will allow viewing of the project from anywhere in the world.

The removal project officially got underway with a ceremony on September 17, 2011, although work on one of the two dams involved in the multi-year effort actually began two days earlier.

The Elwha River, which had the largest watershed in Olympic National Park, flows northward from the Olympic Mountains to the Straight of Juan de Fuca near the town of Port Angeles, Washington. Private companies constructed two large dams on the river during the early 1900’s.

Elwha Dam, a 105-foot high concrete gravity dam, forms Lake Aldwell eight miles upstream from the river's mouth. Glines Canyon Dam, built in 1927, is a 210-foot high concrete arch dam that forms Lake Mills 13 miles upstream from the mouth of the river."

Get the Story:
Jim Burnett: New Webcams At Olympic National Park Allow Views of Largest Dam Removal Project in U. S. History (National Parks Traveler 9/26)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Removal of dams a step towards return of Elwha River (9/19)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe praises start of dam breaching work (09/15)
National Parks: Secretary Salazar to celebrate removal of dam (9/14)
Blog: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe's hatchery threatens salmon (9/13)
Lower Elwha Klallam to auction items from removal of dams (9/8)
EnergyBiz: Dam breaching benefits Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (9/7)
KLCC: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe restoring salmon at hatchery (8/24)
Blog: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe holds ceremony for First Salmon (8/22)
OPB: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe keeps an eye on health of rivers (8/17)
Opinion: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe could hurt salmon recovery (8/3)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe welcomes dam removal for salmon (7/29)

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