June 29, 2009, 3:24 pm
The National Park Service plans to begin this fall the construction of the Lower Elwha Fish Hatchery, a necessary step toward the removal of two dams on the Elwha River.
The park service announced last week that it is soliciting proposals from contractors for the hatchery planned on the Lower Elwha Klallam reservation about 6 miles west of Port Angeles.
The 15-day pre-solicitation period will be followed by a request for bids about July 10, with contractors given 45 days to respond.
The project, estimated to cost more than $18 million, is expected to be completed in about 16 months.
The hatchery is intended to protect Elwha River salmon runs during and after the removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams, a $308 million project expected to begin in 2011.
The removal of the aging dams -- which were built without fish ladders and thus blocked a salmon spawning ground -- is intended to restore the river to its natural state and allow all five species of Pacific salmon and other anadromous fish to return to the more than 70 miles of river.
The Elwha River Ecosystem Restoration project is the largest dam-removal project in the nation.
"Construction of this fish hatchery is an important step forward toward restoration of the Elwha River and ecosystem and toward economic recovery in our region," said Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin in a prepared statement.
