‘You can change the marine ecosystem’
||| FROM THE COOL DOWN |||
Scientists studying a dam removal project in Washington state have discovered positive impacts on coastal ecosystems a decade downstream from the project’s beginning.
According to a report in Hakai Magazine, the 2013 removal of the Glines Canyon Dam on the Elwha River released “centuries worth” of sediment that has accumulated behind the dam onto ecosystems further down the river.
Initially, flora and fauna at the mouth of the river struggled; most noticeably, the kelp population declined by 95% because of a combination of the sediment flow and other environmental factors.
However, researchers have discovered over time that the ecosystems have recovered to a pre-removal standard and now show stronger potential. Additionally, the sediment created new sand bars and beaches that are now home to increasing populations of native flora and fauna.
Like other dam removals around the country, such as the project on the Klamath River, the Elwha is one of a few examples to remind stakeholders of the value of ecosystem restoration.
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