Lake Aldwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Aldwell |
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Lake bed and river after Elwha Dam removal
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 Lake Aldwell
Location in Washington (state)
Lake Aldwell
Location in the United States
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| Location | Olympic Peninsula, Clallam County, Washington |
| Coordinates | 48°04′50″N 123°34′15″W / 48.08056°N 123.57083°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Elwha River |
| Primary outflows | Elwha River |
| Catchment area | 315 sq mi (820 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 270 acres (110 ha) |
| Max. depth | 94 ft (29 m) |
| Surface elevation | 188 ft (57 m) |
Lake Aldwell was a large, artificial lake, also called a reservoir. It was located in Washington State, on the Olympic Peninsula, near the mouth of the Elwha River. This lake was formed in 1913 when the Elwha Dam was built across the river.
The Elwha Dam was completely taken down in 2012. This dam had blocked over 70 miles (110 km) of river habitat for fish like Pacific Salmon and steelhead within Olympic National Park.
Fish Living in Lake Aldwell
Before the dam was removed, Lake Aldwell was home to a type of sockeye salmon called kokanee. These salmon came from Indian Creek and Lake Sutherland. Since the dam blocked their way to the Pacific Ocean, they lived their adult lives in the reservoir.
These salmon would reach the reservoir through Indian Creek. They would then travel to Lake Sutherland, which is just below Lake Crescent, to lay their eggs. The lake also had other fish, including bull trout, rainbow trout, and eastern brook trout that had been introduced there.
Bringing the River Back to Life
In 2012, a big project called the Elwha Ecosystem Restoration began. Its main goal was to remove the Elwha Dam and help the river's fish populations recover.
Right after Lake Aldwell was drained, teams started planting native plants. This helped to keep the soil on the slopes from washing away and sped up the natural healing of the area. It is hoped that the fish living above where the lake used to be will soon return to their natural way of life, traveling between the river and the ocean.
Images for kids
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Lake Aldwell, 2008
