Strait of Juan de Fuca’s newest beach keeps growing

Published 12:01 am Sunday, April 7, 2013

An ever-changing plume of sediment courses out of the mouth of the Elwha River in this image taken last week by Port Angeles-based aerial photographer Tom Roorda.

Sediment flows released by dam removal in the $325 million project to restore the river to its wild state are continuing to shape the river mouth and are forming sizable pools where none was before.

Sediment clogging a water treatment plant has held up demolition work on the remaining 60 feet of Glines Canyon Dam until July while workers effect a $1.4 million “correction” on the plant’s intakes.

Farther north, the Elwha Dam has been removed for nearly a year as the river cuts a swath through the bed of the former Lake Aldwell.