Elwha
Elwha

Author: Lynda Mapes

Publisher: Mountaineers Books

Published: 2013-03-05

Total Pages: 474

ISBN-13: 1594857350

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CLICK HERE to download the first chapter from Elwha: A River Reborn (Provide us with a little information and we'll send your download directly to your inbox) A compelling exploration of one of the largest dam removal projects in the world—and the efforts to save a stunning Northwest ecosystem * Co-published with The Seattle Times * 125 color photographs, including rare historic images * Dam removal started in September 2011 while restoration work continues today In the fall of 2011, the Times was on hand when a Montana contractor removed the first pieces from two concrete dams on the Elwha River which cuts through the Olympic range. It was the beginning of the largest dam removal project ever undertaken in North America—one dam was 200 feet tall—and the start of an unprecedented attempt to restore an entire ecosystem. More than 70 miles of the Elwha and its tributaries course from the mountain headwaters to clamming beaches on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Through interviews, field work, archival and historical research, and photojournalism, The Seattle Times has explored and reported on the dam removal, the Elwha ecosystem, its industrialization, and now its renewal. Elwha: A River Reborn is based on these feature articles. Richly illustrated with stunning photographs, as well as historic images, graphics, and a map, Elwha tells the interwoven stories of this region. Meet the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, who anxiously await the return of renowned salmon runs savored over the generations in the stories of their elders. Discover the biologists and engineers who are bringing the dams down and laying the plan for renewal, including an unprecedented revegetation effort that will eventually cover more than 700 acres of mudflats. When the dam started to come down in Fall 2011—anticipated for more than 20 years since Congress passed the Elwha Restoration Act—it was the beginning of a $350 million project observed around the world. Elwha: A River Reborn is inspiring and instructive, a triumphant story of place, people, and environment striving to come together. Winner of the Nautilus Awards 2014 "Better Books for a Better World" Silver Award!

Large-scale dam removal and ecosystem restoration
Large-scale dam removal and ecosystem restoration

Author: Rebecca McCaffery

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2024-09-20

Total Pages: 405

ISBN-13: 2832553605

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Rivers are vital ecosystems that support aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity and several ecosystem services, including food, water, culture, and recreation. After centuries of building dams on rivers across the world, dam removal projects are now on the rise due to obsolescence, reservoir sedimentation, insufficient return on investment, or river restoration and conservation priorities. Most dam removal projects have focused on smaller structures (< 10 m in structural height), but larger structures have also started to be removed in increasing numbers as practitioners, river managers, conservationists, and the public have gained more experience with the practice. Recent estimates suggest that only a small fraction of dam removals have been scientifically studied, and include mostly small dams and short time scales. Documenting the long-term ecological outcomes of large dam removal (i.e. >10 m tall) represents a new frontier in dam removal research: projects are more recent and provide an opportunity to understand the complex ecological changes that occur with these transformative restoration projects. Here, we aim to collate a diverse array of papers on long-term dam removal research projects involving larger dams (>10 m) to synthesize the issues, outcomes, tools, and experimental designs used to study large dam removal projects from physical, biological, and ecological perspectives. With this collection, we aim to showcase diverse global projects on ecosystem responses to large dam removal; collect perspectives from different disciplines, fields, and geographies; and synthesize the current state of knowledge in this area. We expect that this Research Topic will be informative to ongoing, long-term ecological restoration and monitoring projects related to dam removal as well as to upcoming large dam removal projects. We welcome contributions from all disciplines addressing the physical, ecological, and ecosystem responses to large-scale dam removal. Contributions could include original research in a specific discipline or area, case studies, or synthesis papers that address one or more of these topics in a transdisciplinary approach. Contributors could address any of the following major topics as related to outcomes of large dam removal, alone or in combination: Freshwater, estuarine, and marine aquatic biota; River and reservoir geomorphology; Terrestrial and riparian vegetation; Wildlife; Sedimentation; and Modelling. We would like contributors to highlight key results in their area of study, cross-disciplinary insights, and lessons learned that could inform ongoing monitoring and research efforts in current projects as well as upcoming large dam removals.