The Elwha River once supported legendary salmon runs, but for over a century, two hydroelectric dams blocked fish passage to 70 miles of upstream habitat. These dams, built in the early 1900s, significantly altered river conditions—changing hydrology, temperature, and the movement of wood, sediment, and gravel—leading to the collapse of salmon populations. In 1999, Elwha Chinook were listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). As a unique population within the Puget Sound Chinook, their recovery is essential to the overall recovery and eventual delisting of Puget Sound Chinook under the ESA.

In 2007, the federal government adopted the Puget Sound Chinook Recovery Plan, which included an Elwha Chapter detailing the necessary strategies for restoring Elwha Chinook. Since then, significant progress has been made, most notably the removal of the Elwha River dams—the largest dam removal project in U.S. history. This transformative event reconnected salmon to their historical habitat and reshaped restoration priorities in the watershed.

The Elwha Chapter Update (December 2024) provides an essential revision to the original plan, reflecting new scientific findings, restoration progress, and updated recovery strategies.

Download the full report: Elwha Chapter Update: Puget Sound Chinook Recovery Plan (December 2024)