Planning and Coordination Support for an Elwha Research Consortium

Project ID: J9W88040032

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: Western Washington University

Fiscal Year: 2004

Initial Funding: $13,000

Total Funding: $13,000

Project Type: Technical Assistance

Project Disciplines: Interdisciplinary

National Park: Olympic National Park

Principal Investigator: Allaway, Jim

Agreement Technical Representative: Freilich, Jerry

Abstract: The purpose of this project is to assist Olympic National Park to plan for a collaborative (multi-agency and university) research consortium as part of authorized Elwha River restoration. Two large dams on the Elwha River acquired by the NPS in the past few years are currently scheduled to be removed starting in 2007. For over 90 years, these dams have blocked salmon and other anadromous fish from all but about five miles of what otherwise is a pristine watershed largely within Olympic National Park (OLYM), and have curtailed downstream transport of large wood, nutrients, and sediment. Removal of these dams and subsequent restoration work will constitute the single largest salmon restoration project ever undertaken. Scientists from many natural and social science disciplines seek to study ecosystem responses to the removal of the two dams in what will be a critical scientific research program to take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime ecosystem restoration opportunity. Results from the research program will have national significance, not only with regard to restoration ecology, but also with regard to basic scientific understanding of how terrestrial, freshwater aquatic, and marine ecosystem components interact.