Rising from the Ashes

Less than six years ago, the second of two dams on the Elwha River, on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, was taken out to provide access for fish to the upper river located in the Olympic National Park. Since then, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation of the river - and of the wildlife that depend on it. Before the dams were installed in the early 1900s, the Elwha produced consistent and robust runs of salmon and steelhead and was a productive fishery. Afterwards, these runs dwindled almost to nothing. In fact, the river’s summer run of steelhead was almost extirpated. But taking out the dams paid immediate dividends for salmon and steelhead, which are now being found throughout the watershed. And summer steelhead, in particular, have staged an amazing comeback. Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, summer steelhead have repopulated the Elwha in numbers unthinkable a few years ago. This film, from renowned filmmaker Shane Anderson, documents the return of summer steelhead to the Elwha, some of the key players who are studying the recovery of salmon and steelhead in this river, and what the Elwha’s recovery can tell us about large-scale river restoration projects in other places.
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[@berryelectronics]

Who else came here after watching " Undamming the Elwha, the documentary" This was a great follow up. Thank you!!

[@absolutevoltage28]

I did and I saw that documentary after watching DamNation a documentary featuring the elwa removal

[@pauljohnson9432]

the dirtbag diaries just did a cool podcast on this last week. dirtbagdiaries.com/endangered-spaces-the-elwha-river-recovery/

[@Mrbfgray]

Love these success stories. Often big agencies do good but take on a life of their own and go a dam TOO FAR, certainly the case here.

[@timothybmonahan]

I did. I am watching stream and river restoration after watching the Patagonia movie, Damnation. LE'T'S GO! this is so encouraging.

[@jackwright485]

I consider the Elwha my "home water". I fly fished the upper river every September until it closed for fish recovery post dam removal. Supposedly it is scheduled to reopen this fall, but I don't know if I can fish it again, especially after watching this film - I find myself feeling that I respect the fish too much. I still remember the first Elwha rainbow that I caught (on a size 14 Elk Hair Caddis) in the upper river many years ago, and saying to myself "this is something special, this is not your typical rainbow trout". I have revisited the upper river during the fishing closure, and it remains my favorite river valley in Olympic National Park. I took my wife there a couple of years ago, and she understands why I want to have my ashes spread in the upper Elwha valley when the times comes. Thanks for the film - I recognized all of the locations.

[@antonybanks9865]

All the people involved in this project should be so proud of the work you have done.

[@zachb8012]

I visited the estuary of the Elwha in August of 2021 and I ended up watching this video because it stuck with me as one of the most wonderful and awe-inspiring places I have ever been. There were juvenile salmon leaping from the water, where hundreds of gulls were being hunted by bald eagles and out at sea we saw a pod of porpoises. As if to put the icing on the cake of this ecological wonder one of the cleanest surf breaks I've ever seen now graces the bay. Earth's rivers are a magical gift and truly the best reason to love and appreciate the splendor of our natural world. There is always hope, so long as we never forget where we came from.

[@adamsmith8533]

I live outside of Buffalo NY and most likely will never see that river but it warms my heart to see such a wonderful success story. Thank you all for your hard work. You should be very proud. Nature will find a way if we let her!

[@sancharino6878]

Me too! Hi neighbor

[@jaimec1489]

Beautiful video! I’ve watched it 3 times - a wonderful story of nature bouncing back after human interference. So much hope! Thank you for sharing.🐟💪🏻

[@hefnhef1]

Amazing recovery, awesome story and video.

[@felipericketts]

Gives me joy and hope for the future and all those that will follow. Thanks for this great story!

[@patrickkallerman8583]

Hope is hard to come by these days, but John nailed it: this story gives a lot of hope. Unbelievable. I couldn't be more proud of the work TU is doing. Not just with the removal itself, but with the determined, evidenced-based follow-up work which will be crucial to ensure we are able to advocate for removals like this well into the future. Fantastic job.

[@nonewherelistens1906]

So totally agree. TU is a great organization, responsible for a lot of good on cold water fisheries.

[@Hambone8771]

Dude this was absolutely soothing to my sole! Restore our fisheries! Thank God!

[@mickeybailey1108]

This is so powerful to me. They just restored the creek on my property on the Eel river. There is a proposal just in to remove one of the two dams blocking off fish habitat in the upper Eel river. I spend time on the creek watching to see if we will get chinook salmon back in the creek. It has been two years now since they opened Woodman creek. I also hope more rivers on the peninsula can be repaired. I love that place. Thank you for your work!

[@Fisherking03]

Another excellent effort, Shane. Bust Deadbeat Dams!!!

[@peterdorn5799]

Elwha dam removal is what dreams are made of, I'm dreaming of the snake river now

[@mattwhalen892]

@@peterdorn5799 Remove dirty politicians like trump, Snake river next!

[@travisjacobson7126]

What’s wrong with dams?

[@rdecarolis1]

@@mattwhalen892 Any dirty do nothing democrats you'd like to remove?

[@AdamTait-hy2qh]

@@rdecarolis1 Democrats are pro environment. Republicans are pro profiteering.

[@johnmedina5399]

Such a beautiful river system and hope they do an update video. This river is the poster child for the benefits of dam removal. Those under water shots were amazing great video.

[@brianfarmer6223]

Amazing to see the river restoring itself like this. So many benefits have come from this removal with all the sediment now creating the estuary in tidal water, fish passage up to the headwater. All the nutrition and micro organisms can run freely through the whole river with no backups of stagnant water. Thanks Trout Unlimited!!

[@fishingbeyond8435]

Steelhead now, steelhead forever!

[@beachbummington4122]

The river beautiful beautiful! The water is so clear! Glad the fish are returning!

[@nisquallydave]

If there was ever a question that the issue is access to quality and quantity of habitat, this puts that discussion to rest. Nicely done and great to see my friend Rob M in the river getting wet. Mahalo nui loa!

[@davidveilleux4688]

Absolutely awesome

[@talesfromanoldmanpatoneal6372]

I do love mother nature. Thank you mother 🌎

[@casienwhey]

That was a nice short film about the fish recovery. I visited the area in 2003 or 2004 when the dams were still there and then came back about 15 years later when they were out and will try and visit again in a year or two to see it again post dams. One memory I have that sticks with me from the first visit was watching salmon swim around and around in circles at the base of the first dam looking for a way up stream but having no path. Seemed very sad. I'd vote for taking out as many dams as possible to help as many salmon as possible.

[@seaknightvirchow8131]

It is so gratifying to witness the restoration of habitat.

[@KutthroatOutdoors]

Man this was incredible, just awesome storytelling, thank you for sharing!

[@evanjohnson5480]

Great story. Wonderful outcome. Its nice to see somerhing improve instead of deteriorate.

[@christoabbe]

The most beautiful place ive ever seen

[@rfvflyfishing9162]

SO AMAZING! We need to continue working to maintain and revive our incredible environment!

[@kristofreuther6692]

Super cool and motivational for the projects that we face here on Europe! Thanks so much!

[@andyfletcher3561]

The case is being made worldwide, and not only for trout/salmon waters.

[@lucianj.9084]

Awesome vid! Can’t believe that they still want to build the dam on the chehalis and I can’t wait til the day when they tear down all Columbia and snake river dams

[@nonewherelistens1906]

Dams are a 17th century solution to a 21st century problem. There are alternatives to dams that are less costly, more effective, and much more environmentally friendly.

[@robertsmith786]

Amazing video. Well worth watching

[@latstv6007]

This made me smile every time I think of it. I love nature. ❤️

[@rodngun762]

beautiful story and video... literally brings tears to my eyes. let's keep up this progress!!

[@tomjpt]

As one of the participants said, after watching this miracle I have more hope for the future than I have ever had.

[@richarddevine8391]

Wow, congratulations on a successful project

[@herbrothersoutdoors501]

Beautiful film! Letting nature recover.

[@LhotseHawk]

Awe, Shane! That made me happy cry!

[@outdoorsmiths2272]

Great work you guys are doing but also great filming, gotta give it up to you guys for just being all-around quality

[@skypieper]

Awesome! i've been waiting for a video update on the Elwha. The underwater footy was incredible.

[@MrMarkAMartin]

Powerful, I love that river

[@rollintufff]

The way nature intended... Fantastic job bringing awareness to what conservation looks like 🤘

[@Bill-cv3dy]

Awesome, all man has to do to help nature is get out of the way

[@MrAdrenaline00]

Bill 1314 I know, it is horrible that natural reproduction it’s so scarce that they have to make a documentary about it. Since the monopolization of water natural reproduction is non existent. Here in Colorado our waters are packed full of inbred genetically modified liberal fish.

[@michaelmartin7176]

Just add water LOL !

[@erikdohme1097]

I’m trying to figure out how people dislike this video lol

[@wowthtsgood]

most dislikes are genuinely people missing the like button

[@slowstang88]

Mostly because there's no videos of females in wetsuits

[@erikdohme1097]

@@slowstang88 *shoulder shrug* well at least you’re honest.

[@eddiecharles6457]

It's because you can't fix stupid.

[@waltsnow1762]

Trumpanzeez !

[@pietersundgren7867]

Great job to this entire team! Great film, even greater fish, for the best of reasons.

[@ScottRoney]

Wow that is so awesome and encouraging. I hope they continue to remove dams at a prodigious rate

[@twistedtwitt]

Wonderful! Its so great to see nature restore its beauty in the midst of human interaction.

[@NFiltr8Red]

Fishing for fun and food in moderation is something we need to preach to younger generations. Our local rivers in Humboldt county are Catch and Release, which is great but there are still people poaching and taking way too many fish from other rivers that you can keep.

[@Noneya2023]

Bravo!

[@cirishluck25]

Absolutely beautiful. Lets keep restrictions in place over time and use the Elwah as a case for environmental remediation without muddying the waters (pun intended).

[@philwe3367]

Perfect and thanks for sharing! Awesome pictures.

[@waynethiessen729]

There is hope! Incredible!

[@joedennehy386]

Magnificent work, shows what can be done if we don't interfere with nature.

[@Jesse-cy7ws]

Leave them alone and they’ll come back. In Canada we insist on releasing all steelhead immediately.

[@IntoTheWildFlyFishing]

Love it!

[@janegertrude9270]

Yes, we do insist on releasing all steelhead...because we only have about three of them left! It`s a disaster up here in BC for all our wild fish stocks :( :( I used to fish for Steelhead in the S Thompson, it`s been completely closed for over 8 years now. Ya there`s finally a lot of people working to fix things, but out DFO is dropping the ball again and again, then we had a catastrophic rock slide in The Fraser last winter, truly gut wrenching :( :(

[@fishingfantasy9335]

Inspiring video

[@markgolden1418]

That's awesome and so good to hear. I would love to work with trout unlimited. Such a great organization.

[@jtepsr]

fantastic stuff

[@watwudscoobydoo1770]

So promising, I live along stevens creek in CA. We have a population of steelhead and raibows seperated by a dam built in the 30s. For the longest time they use to stock hatchery trout in the resevoir but they eventually stopped to save the native fish and they found they was almost no interbreeding between the hatchery fish, and the native fish occured. Unfortunatly they will never bust the dam or build any sort of fish ladder. California, we are always low on water. But there are several top tech companies along the watershed, I dont see why they could come up with some solution even if it was just about good PR points with the public.

[@rdecarolis1]

Good point. Many studies have been done and prove that hatchery fish do not impact wild fish populations, thank you for providing more evidence of that.

[@acmotifs]

Wow that water is crystal!

[@farv4207]

Thats awesome!

[@sergeanthetfield3001]

Such a positive video. Best wishes from Sweden

[@wolfgangbehm8751]

Nice Job!!!

[@PaulN-x2q]

It is really difficult. The people who spend most of their time wading and casting don't seem to want the sand and gravel back. The tail-waters become cobble paved, and the fish have no place to make redds. We walk all-over the creek beds to do a little less casting. The folks around here will happily fish with streamers, all-year, for imported and/or hatchery-trout. You would think that it would be less expensive to install a gravel for the trout, chub and sucker to spawn in, and something granular for the benthic macroinvertebrates to call 'home.'

[@johnisbell574]

I predict that the Steelhead runs will not only increase in numbers, but the steelhead will get bigger in size and weight.

[@brianjohnston4207]

You should be seeing a good number of those 2 and 3 salt fish spawning by now which are your larger 20lb fish. I'm curious to see how this changes once state and Tribal fisheries resume.

[@hankgriffin5397]

This is so encouraging WILD fish are a major part of our eco system! A Dead river becomes ALIVE! Good on you all America!

[@NWJonathan]

Amazing. 🦾🐟🖤

[@repentuklondonwatchman1373]

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL

[@LifeOutdoors]

I would love to be a part of the research efforts out there, really incredible stuff. Thanks for the great film!

[@jonahv9572]

That's awsome! Makes me smile! 😃

[@ML-hs3ld]

Great news. The salmon's resilience is impressive.

[@futureyou6496]

Love this video!!!

[@TheAamott12]

I hope that in my lifetime they open up the Columbia and the Snake

[@jacksongould4263]

I am heartened by this video and the apparent return of the Steelhead but I'd be curious to see what the numbers are like for Coho, the most susceptible Salmonid to changes in water conditions

[@kenxiong6830]

Nature finds a way

[@danielobriot3116]

There use to be a salmon run in the LA RIVER.

[@marcoverde9790]

They are gonna do this on the Klamath in the next few years

[@csmats5374]

Great story! Any chance it can be opened to limited barbless fly fishing? Those steelhead look like real fighters.

[@brianjohnston4207]

Wdfw and the Tribes will not lift the ban until the numbers of upriver spawners has increased. As of now Chinook seem to be having the hardest time and it doesn't look like they are going to open it this year but I know they will discuss it at North of Falcon and outline the specifics on the situation with the Anadramous fish runs and their decision to either open or keep the river closed to fishing. It's my opinion from what I am understanding is that it will not open.

[@ronward3949]

The Ocean and the saltwater estuary will be crucial to help recoveries of the broader spectrum of this aspect of the Dam Removals as hydrological functions, seasonality, low and high flows, instream habitat diversity, downed woody debris recruitment or absence, boulder or bedrock shifts, side channels or braids, and other dynamic aspects of the Upper Elwha as continue monitor unsustainable sediment loading or dumping, continue innovative process-related activities, as cover for all species provides the integration of natural biota and recovering ecosystems to establish as freshwater conditions exist and rely on Historical and Integration of Tribal Knowledge and Councils to add considerable information for the conditions of what would be the saltwater intrusion into the lower if not lowest reaches of the River before it met the Sea. Starting River Mile at the Mouth would constitute a thorough examination of how the Ocean and its influences in the Inland Passage might have influenced those same Oceanic Currents and Movements. Former records of Marine shellfish, plant species emergent, secured, or floating, netting of smolting Salmonids or other freshwater species utilizing these natal waters of lowered salinities before the fate to grow and evolve before changing into a Saltwater species as now it could be Anadromous or at least capable living in higher salt concentrations. Collections of various plant species, shell fragments, personal taste to salt water effects on the River, all sorts of accounts of gathering plant materials, to helping to steward for them could all help establish the continuity of Life that would have been in the Lower Elwha Basin.

[@BB_46]

I love eating trout!

[@ronward3949]

Certainly at least five species of Salmon alone thrived in this river ecosystem, much less eel/lamprey complex, Sturgeon species, and other juvenile Anadromous species of salline habitat zones, if present. for continuity of species to species for survival stages in and out of freshwater and also require underlying plant species contributions to this unique habitat which modern Ecologists would see as an integrative zone of Salinities to describe and integrate various techniques to simplify the complex strategies in life cycles of these various organisms. Hopefully underlying developments could continue to blend the most important information to more fully suit the broader concerns.

[@pranksterDoug]

Any word on the other salmon species making a come back as well?

[@leroybabcock6652]

hell yeah

[@facetious1428]

TU was also the organization, along with the Atlantic Salmon Federation that destroyed the connection the public once had with Atlantic salmon in the Penobscot River in Maine. They filed for an emergency listing for it to be placed on the Endangered Species Act. The truth is that the wild genetics of this fish they demanded to be listed was gone decades before and is now merely a hatchery fish. Everything, including catch & release fishing, is gone now. Just because an organization backs a restoration project doesn't mean they are acting responsibly or correctly. Be careful and watch whatever TU does, closely.

[@rickthomas6606]

There used to be salmon all the way up passed Revelstoke BC Canada

[@mattvish2591]

It is nice to see how an ecological river flow can be restored. But please don't forget that Hydropower is still the most efficient and best renewable energy source we have today. Don't know what happend to local paper mills that the river was powering. I can guess production has moved and is now powdered by fossil fuel. The environmental cost of big dams are clear, but I believe an equilibrium can be found using small hydro cascades and still sustaining ecological river flow.

[@surferdude8086]

Fuck! The surf at that river mouth is epic. Rights and lefts stacked up to the horizon and completely empty. Holy shit. I'm making plans as well speak to get there with my quiver and campout. 🤙😃

[@Captn_Cor]

Come take the dams out of the Susquehanna. Fish used to be able to travel from Virginia to northern PA, Shad, Striped Bass, Sturgeon, even Salmon. All gone.

[@gabefoltz7762]

I'm an aspiring fisheries biologist that lives near the Susquehanna. We didnt really have Atlantic Salmon (hardly) but I agree. White Perch and Yellow Perch runs also get blocked from swimming up past the dams. Conowingo just recently paid $250 million dollars in reparations for their environmental harm but as a result they relicensed the dam giving them a guaranteed 50 more years....

[@Captn_Cor]

Gabe Foltz I suggest reading exploration journals from some of the first people ( besides natives ) to travel up the Delaware, Susquehanna, Potomac and Chesapeake. There are accounts of all above species mentioned above and more. Fish so abundant that a basket could be plunged into the water and brought out full of fish.. pretty crazy stuff.

[@chronicawareness9986]

steelhead vs rainbow trout is what? whats the difference

[@chronicawareness9986]

@wayouttatune2 wow... i never knew that... super interesting

[@andyfletcher3561]

@@chronicawareness9986 Well, there is actually some genetic difference. Most Rainbows have no drive to go out to sea. All Steelhead are Rainbows but all Rainbows are not Steelhead...

[@chronicawareness9986]

@@andyfletcher3561 i wish i could catch both, and also eat some... are the flavors of them similar? im in florida so the only trout i can catch are speckled sea trout lol

[@andyfletcher3561]

@@chronicawareness9986 I haven't had Steelhead since I was a kid. I remember I didn't care for it. Too fishy tasting for me. I don't like large regular trout of any species. I'm quite picky when it comes to fish. For trout, when I did keep them rather than release, it was always when I would be able to consume them within a couple of hours, and never over 9 or 10 inches. I don't care for Salmon either. Never had a Specky. I hear they are good. I'm more of a Cod, Haddock, Roughy sort of guy. Flounder and Sole are alright, but Halibut is too strong tasting. I'd love to try some Mutton Snapper...

[@duckwacker8720]

It's always been the dams and nets that effect fish. Not hatchery fish.

[@alanbrooke144]

And then they decide to put massive numbers of farmed fish into the river, which has proven to be a significant obstacle to the health and recovery of the wild, natural fishery.

[@peterlinton488]

Lets go big bows!

[@edmundsenterprises9786]

......And what would the Columbia river basin do

[@ZGADOW]

Now the Penobscot needs it’s salmon back

[@1101millie97]

I hope to see a similar video after the four dams on the Snake River are finally breached in coming years.

[@brianjohnston4207]

If they breach those dams and leave the others in place there will be no recovery whatsoever.

[@DavidRobertson-pk4ld]

Removing dams benefits all living things in and around rivers. There other ways of producing energy then constructing dams. Give nature a chance to survive, and in doing so, so will we.

[@devinhoyt1971]

Here in Washington we got loads of steelhead and salmon in the major systems mainly talking chehalis and tributaries and cowlitz and it's tributaries most folks have a tough time catching them but they ain't doin it Right! And them fellas that tell you we didn't catch nothin are lieing we just don't want a bunch of people out here on the skookumchuck and chehalis around blue creek and the toutle the fish are there ya gotta put the beer down and stop bsing with everyone out there and actually fish

[@andyfletcher3561]

Ahhh, the waters of my youth with my Grandpa Boney. He was good. Fishing the Cowlitz for harvest trout one afternoon he hooked a 3 foot Chinook on a little Adams dry. Over an hour fighting it with that 1 pound tippet. He managed to bring it to the bank and then it lunged, everything was too tight at that point and couldn't react fast enough so it snapped off. Such a beautiful monster...

[@steelmill888]

Fukushima nuclear explosion didn't help any animal in the pacific.Does anyone remember this pivotal moment in the ocean.Come on people.

[@garrettharrison4004]

California needs to fill back up Tulare lake....

[@g.a.anderson5053]

Sadly, we know what is next for this river.

[@rileybutcher8220]

G.A. Anderson awesome days fishing!!

[@rdecarolis1]

What is that exactly? Fishing?

[@torus989]

Now if we could just improve ocean survival rates...

[@fishon3586]

U yuppy fly flickers need to move to montana probly fit right in

[@fan4life34]

Let em grow to be true hogs!!

[@bruceeferry940]

What we need is an international moratorium on salmon fishing for a couple of years.

[@nonewherelistens1906]

Need a lot of dam removal too. They are the number one impediment to healthy anadromous runs. Ask any biologist.

[@andyfletcher3561]

@@nonewherelistens1906 Yup, long known that ladders don't work...

[@oskarbjornstad877]

Why do fancy people have to call wherever a body of water is the “watershed”. It’s a damn river. If it was a lake it’s called a lake and ocean and so forth I just couldn’t keep this to myself.

[@guirichicho]

And a watershed is a watershed... You have Internet, if you don't understand big words you can look them up!