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Lake Aldwell
Elwha Dam which creates Lake Aldwell
Location	Olympic Peninsula, Clallam County, Washington
Coordinates	48°05′40″N 123°33′24″W / 48.09444°N 123.55667°W / 48.09444; -123.55667Coordinates: 48°05′40″N 123°33′24″W / 48.09444°N 123.55667°W / 48.09444; -123.55667
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Elwha River
Primary outflows	Elwha River
Catchment area	315 sq mi (820 km2)
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	270 acres (110 ha)
Max. depth	94 ft (29 m)
Surface elevation	188 ft (57 m)
References	[1]

Lake Aldwell is a reservoir located about 4.9 miles from the mouth of the Elwha River on the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington. The reservoir was created in 1913 behind the Elwha Dam. The Elwha Dam blocks 70+ miles of fish habitat for Pacific Salmon and Steelhead within Olympic National Park.

Fish population

Lake Aldwell is home to a population of kokanee sockeye salmon from Indian Creek and Lake Sutherland which, unable to access the Pacific Ocean use the reservoir as their "ocean" during their adult lives. These salmon access the reservoir via Indian Creek and spawn in Lake Sutherland, just below Lake Crescent. The lake also contains landlocked bull trout, rainbow trout, and a population of introduced eastern brook trout.

Ecosystem restoration

In 2012, the Elwha Ecosystem Restoration project will remove the Elwha Dam and will begin to restore the fisheries of the river. Lake Aldwell will be drained. Immediately afterwards, revegetation crews will plant native vegetation to stabilize the slopes from erosion and speed up ecological restoration. It is expected that the fish populations that reside above the lake will return to their original anadromous lifestyle shortly thereafter.

References

External links

• U.S. Geological Survey Geographical Names Information System: Lake Aldwell