Evolution of shoreline around Elwha River mouth

Evolution of the shoreline around the Elwha River mouth, Washington, before, during and after dam removal, 2011–2017. Two large dams were removed from the Elwha River between 2011 and 2014 in the largest dam removal worldwide thus far, releasing more than 20 million tons of sediment downstream. These images show the effects of new sediment depositing around the river mouth and being reworked by waves and currents. The Elwha River and other recent dam-removal sites are generating new understanding of ways in which river and coastal systems respond to human activity. Image from Warrick and others, 2019, Scientific Reports.