Elwha River ScienceScape: Understanding Ecosystem Recovery Following Large-Scale Dam Removal
The Elwha River – located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington - is home to an iconic dam removal and ecosystem restoration project. The Elwha offers a unique setting to explore the ecosystem level effects of dam removal and river restoration because of its prominence, such as large sediment volume, several salmon populations, and pristine wilderness.
Scientists from five USGS centers are playing a central role alongside Tribal, federal and state agency, and academic partners in interdisciplinary studies of the Elwha, with the aim of developing a long-term, multigenerational effort to understand how the ecosystem changes following dam removal.
Current Study: Monitoring Wildlife Responses to River Restoration
Scientists at the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center are collaborating with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to understand terrestrial wildlife restoration and response to dam removal. This work includes camera-based wildlife monitoring, studies of small mammal distribution on revegetating reservoir beds, and studies of elk and deer browse in revegetation sites. Ultimately, documenting wildlife recovery, use of, and interaction with the restoration area will provide valuable information on the impacts of dam removal for managers and researchers planning future river restoration projects.
The Elwha River – located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington - is home to an iconic dam removal and ecosystem restoration project. The Elwha offers a unique setting to explore the ecosystem level effects of dam removal and river restoration because of its prominence, such as large sediment volume, several salmon populations, and pristine wilderness.
Scientists from five USGS centers are playing a central role alongside Tribal, federal and state agency, and academic partners in interdisciplinary studies of the Elwha, with the aim of developing a long-term, multigenerational effort to understand how the ecosystem changes following dam removal.
Current Study: Monitoring Wildlife Responses to River Restoration
Scientists at the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center are collaborating with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to understand terrestrial wildlife restoration and response to dam removal. This work includes camera-based wildlife monitoring, studies of small mammal distribution on revegetating reservoir beds, and studies of elk and deer browse in revegetation sites. Ultimately, documenting wildlife recovery, use of, and interaction with the restoration area will provide valuable information on the impacts of dam removal for managers and researchers planning future river restoration projects.