The National Park Service put the finishing touch on the dam removal project and opened up an interpretive exhibit and overlook on the remnants of the lower dam. It’s easy to get to, but those that don’t like heights might be uncomfortable. It’s well worth the look.
The most interesting view is that of the lake bed becoming a river valley again. Vegetation is growing back fast and it will only be 5 or 6 years until there’s nothing remarkable to see.
The river restoration has succeeded beyond expectations. The salmon run like they did 100 years ago. The delta at the mouth took some surprising turns, completely redesigning the coast line along the Strait.
The drought in the Olympics [a drought in a rain forest] is most unexpected and raises fears that the newly restored Elwha could actually go dry this summer, making life terrible for any returning salmon. Luckily the number of fish should be low since it was only a couple of years since the fish were introduced. That will be the story this summer.
Weather is still excellent, though a whole of rain has not fallen since I’ve been here.