"The Pacific Northwest is well-known for its dams that provide carbon-neutral hydropower. Now we are also becoming famous for taking them down, undertaking a series of dam demolition projects that rank as the largest in United States history.

The removal of three dams represents a positive step toward restoration of access to spawning grounds for some of the Northwest’s legendary wild salmon runs.

Two of the dams being demolished are on the Elwha River near Port Angeles, and the third is on the White Salmon River, east of Vancouver and across the Columbia from Hood River, Ore.

As The Olympian reported recently, members of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe are rejoicing because chinook salmon – guided by improbable DNA recall – are already returning to their river after a 100-year absence. "

Get the Story:
Editorial: Hydropower vital to Northwest – and so are salmon (The Olympian 8/22)

Also Today:
Scientists tells of Elwha restoration progress during symposium (The Peninsula Daily News 8/22)
More king salmon sightings upriver in Elwha (The Peninsula Daily News 8/22)

Related Stories:
People's World: Hopes soar as dams removed on Elwha River (8/13)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe awaits return of more salmon to river (8/3)
Opinion: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe fought for removal of dams (7/27)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe finds quick return of salmon to river (7/12)
KUOW: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe works to restore salmon runs (06/05)
Editorial: Temporary truce with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (03/06)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to decommission old fish hatchery (02/06)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe working to restore salmon runs (01/30)
Alternet: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe welcomes removal of dams (01/05)