The removal of two dams on the Elwha River in 2011 and 2014 gave unrestricted passage to ESA-listed Chinook salmon, as well as other fish species. The dam removals left roughly 600 acres of former lakebeds to return to native forests. Large-scale plantings were done following the removal of the dams. However, harsh growing conditions — such as no topsoil — made establishing conifer trees, which are vital to providing shade and large woody debris for fish habitat, very difficult.
Over the past two years, Clallam Conservation District and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (LEKT) have teamed up to plant conifer trees along the Elwha River, each bringing different resources to the table. Clallam Conservation District has a small staff, but a large volunteer program; LEKT has technicians that can work side-by-side with volunteers in the field. This partnership led to 181 volunteers helping plant over 6,000 trees along the Elwha River during two Orca Recovery Day events, as well as several smaller planting events, to help restore fish habitat in the Elwha Watershed.
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Clallam County, Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC)
CREP has changed the landscape in Whatcom County” (Wayne Chaudiere, Whatcom Conservation District). Riparian buffers, such as the one shown in the photo, now span along 132 miles of stream in Whatcom County, forming a panorama of native tree and shrub forests that were just recently open fields or invasive plant species such as blackberry.
Success Story Snapshot: Tucannon River. Voluntary, watershed-based effort leads to increased salmon runs.
Mason Conservation District leveraged CREP funding to assist landowners along Gosnell Creek with making improvements to salmon habitat and farm practices.
