Salmon Come Home

We are still in the 'fish window', the six weeks in which there is no demolition work on the Glines Canyon dam removal because Chinook and pink salmon are moving up the river. I'd have said 'theoretically moving up the river', but it's really happening: they are seeing fish. My tribal email is full of photos, and there are some on the dam removal blog. Because no silt-producing work is going on, there has been not much action on the dam cams, though the contractor's crew is preparing for blasting after the middle of the month.

On the Dam Cams you can see that Elwha Dam is gone and Lake Aldwell is gone, and green stuff of some sort is growing up in places. From the camera pointed at Glines Canyon Dam you can see that something major has happened, but you can't really get the picture.

This is now: Glines Canyon Dam on the DamCam. (Click for larger image.)

There's 100 feet or so of the dam left, and ALL the demolition rubble (which has been dropped behind the dam) to be removed. But here is the real picture, taken on September 2 from the air. (10,000 thankyous to Tom Roorda for permission to use his image). There's nothing left of Lake Mills but a little puddle.

Glines Canyon Dam and Lake Mills from above, September 2, 2012 (photo by RoordaAerial) (Click for larger image.)

There sure doesn't seem to be anything growing in the emerged lakebed (yet). But it hasn't rained to speak of for seven weeks. Any plant trying to sprout and/or grow might find it a little difficult. The absence of rain probably contributes to how little silt is coming out of the mouth of the river into the Strait. (10,000 more thankyous to Mr. Roorda for this one, too.)

Elwha River flows into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, September 2, 2012 (photo by RoordaAerial) (Click for larger image.)