The world's largest dam removal project began yesterday on Washington's Elwha River.  The removal two dams--210 foot tall Glines Canyon Dam and 108 foot tall Elwha Dam--will restore whitewater and salmon spawning habitat that's been cut off for 100 years.  The project will take about 3 years to complete and, once the dams are gone, 70 miles of salmon spawning habitat and 4 new miles of whitewater will be open for exploration.  

The local Native American tribe tells stories of the days when 100 lb Chinook salmon used to migrate up the steep rapids of the Elwha to spawn in the river's headwaters.  Habitat conditions are prime thanks to the river's location in the Olympic National Park.  So if those rumors are true, paddlers may only have to wait a few years to share the Elwha's eddies with these monster fish for the first time ever.

Last month, I headed up to the Elwha to see the place for myself and see for myself what we have to look forward to.