With one last blast of dynamite on Tuesday, the remaining chunks of cement making up what was once Glines Canyon Dam were dislodged and destroyed, freeing Washington State's Elwha River for the first time in more than a century.
Though a bit of rubble remains -- rubble which will be cleaned up in the coming weeks -- the river is now free to cut its own course, free of man-made obstacles. In addition to returning to a natural pathway to the sea, its water levels will also normalize.
"It's done," Barb Maynes, spokeswoman for Olympic National Park, told the Peninsula Daily News. "We accomplished what was planned."
The accomplishment didn't come cheap. The cost of the restoration project, which began in 2011 and will continue through 2016, stands at $325 million. The Glines Canyon Dam, built in 1927, was one of two major dams clogging the Elwha. The removal of Elwha Dam, built in 1913, was completed in 2012.
The removal of the two dams -- which ecologists say will facilitate the return of all five native salmon species -- has been heralded by the local Native American tribe.
"It's a good day. It was the last spot [blocking the] fish to access the rest of the river," Robert Ellefson, the Elwha restoration manager for the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, told the local paper. "It has been the dream of tribal members for a hundred years."
In addition to enabling a healthier salmon run, the newly unblocked river will also ferry once-trapped sediment down to its mouth and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, replenishing beaches along Crescent Bay and Ediz Hook, which have long been choked of fresh sands.
GMT 10:54 2018 Sunday ,02 December
Egypt wins membership of World Water Council board of governorsGMT 13:57 2018 Thursday ,29 November
UN weather agency: 2018 is fourth hottest year on recordGMT 07:52 2018 Thursday ,15 November
Massive meteorite crater discovered under Greenland ice-sheetGMT 14:25 2018 Sunday ,28 October
Indonesia quake losses soar to 1.2 billion dollarsGMT 07:44 2018 Wednesday ,24 October
Hurricane Willa gathers speed on way to Mexico's coastGMT 09:11 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
Sri Lanka, Germany top Lonely Planet's destination list for in 2019GMT 19:48 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Oil slick off China coast trebles in sizeGMT 13:38 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Spotted hyena returns to Gabon park after 20 yearsMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor