The U.S House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved $25.8 million for Elwha River valley restoration to be completed after dam breaching occurs.
Norm Dicks, the North Olympic Peninsula’s congressman, said the subcommittee vote Thursday means the Glines Canyon and Elwha dams are still on track for removal beginning in 2004.
“The approval of this substantial increment represents a clear endorsement of the Elwha restoration project by the subcommittee and by the new Bush administration,” said Dicks, D-Bremerton.
Dicks is the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee.
The Bush administration has also included Elwha River restoration funds in its fiscal year 2002 budget request.
Dicks also said the project has broad support from Clallam County officials and residents because breaching the dams will restore chinook salmon runs on the Elwha River.
More details appear in the Friday/Saturday Clallam edition of the Peninsula Daily News. Click onto “Subscribe” to order your copy via U.S. mail.