Wild Fish In Gene Banks, Hatchery Fish In Elwha — Why The Two-Headed Strategy?

Washington state has banned hatchery-raised steelhead from three tributaries of the Upper Columbia River basin. The aim of these so-called "gene banks" is to maintain strongholds for wild fish, and the state plans to designate additional gene banks in the future.

Here's the $64,000 $16,000,000 question.

So why were the state and federal governments back in court this week, defending the decision to place a new hatchery on the Elwha River as part of the dam removal process?

LINK (via: KPLU)

Wonders Unveiled

The fifth webisode in the Restoring the Elwha series contiues to document the progress of dam removal and explores the rapidly evolving landscapes and habitats that have been unveiled as the Lake Aldwell and Lake Mills reservoirs drain and the river returns.

LINK

Elwha dam removal focus of new Burke exhibit

Before and After

Photo:Zandcee

A new exhibit at Seattle's Burke Museum, “Elwha: A River Reborn,” details the decades-long fight to remove Elwha River dams, and detail the environmental renewal happening right now.

Read more here: http://www.theolympian.com/2013/11/17/2834430/elwha-dam-removal-focus-of-new.html#storylink=cpy

LINK (via: The Olympian)

Elwha River sees largest run of Chinook in decades

The largest run of Chinook salmon in decades returned to the Elwha River this fall, according to officials with the Olympic National Park.

LINK (via: The Kitsap Sun)

Just imagine if they took those four Snake River Dams out.

Elwha dam teardown resumes with a bang

Contractors have resumed removing the final 50 feet of the Glines Canyon Dam on the Elwha River. Explosives were used to further lower the dam that was once 210 feet tall and three more blasts next year will be needed to complete the demolition.

LINK (via: The Seattle Times)

Unfortunately due to the federal government shutdown all the dam webcams are offline.

The ratio of hatchery-reared salmon compared with wild-hatched salmon were not available

One year after chinook were sighted— the first in 100 years — in the Elwha River above the site of the former Elwha Dam, adult chinook again have been spotted above the dam site, about 8 miles west of Port Angeles.

LINK (via:Peninsula Daily)