Salmon Return to Washington’s Elwha River for the First Time in 102 Years

[badtoworse]

13. There are ways to reduce fry mortality from the turbines.

Last year, I looked at some dams on the Lower Penobscot in Maine and they use bypasses around the turbines to allow the fry to pass. The bypass entrance has a stronger current than the river flow to the turbines and the fry are attracted to that.

I do not believe the Elwha River dams had fish ladders so there wouldn't be any fry upstream of the dams - the adult salmon couldn't get there.

Here's a link to an article that details some of the history of those dams.

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110912/news/309129994/the-elwha-dams-part-2-historical-series-8212-as-dams-age