Elwha, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elwha, Washington
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 Elwha, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Clallam |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Elwha is a small place in Clallam County, Washington, United States. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it's a town without its own local government. Elwha is found along U.S. Route 101, about 9 miles from Port Angeles. It sits right on the edge of the amazing Olympic National Park.
The community is famous for the Elwha River, where a huge project called the Elwha Ecosystem Restoration Project took place. This project helped bring the river back to its natural state.
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Exploring Elwha and its Surroundings
Elwha is a great spot for nature lovers. It's located very close to the northern part of Olympic National Park. This park is known for its beautiful mountains, forests, and coastline.
The Ranger Station and Interpretive Site
The National Park Service has a special building in Elwha. It's called the Elwha Ranger Station. Park rangers used to work there to help visitors. Even though it's currently closed, it shows the area's connection to the park.
There is also a small area where you can learn about the Elwha River. This interpretive site tells the story of the big river restoration project. It's a good place to understand how nature can be healed.
The Elwha River Restoration Project
The Elwha River is the heart of this community. For many years, two large dams blocked the river. These dams changed the river's flow and hurt the fish.
Why the Dams Were Removed
The dams stopped fish like salmon from swimming upstream. Salmon need to travel far upriver to lay their eggs. The dams also trapped sediment, which is important for beaches and riverbanks.
The Elwha Ecosystem Restoration Project was a huge effort. Its goal was to remove the dams and restore the river. This would allow salmon to return and help the river's ecosystem.
How the River Was Restored
The project involved carefully taking down both the Elwha Dam and the Glines Canyon Dam. This was a big job that took several years. It was one of the largest dam removal projects ever.
After the dams were gone, the river began to flow freely again. Fish started to return to areas they hadn't seen in over 100 years. The river's natural processes slowly began to heal the environment.
Impact on Wildlife and Nature
The restoration project had a huge positive impact. It helped many types of fish, especially salmon. It also improved the health of the entire river system.
The project showed how removing dams can bring a river back to life. It's a great example of how people can help nature recover.
