Latest blast whittles once-tall Elwha River dam to about 35 feet in height

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Glines Canyon Dam isn’t gone yet.

But it’s becoming more difficult to spot the remnants under the rubble.

Demolition crews set off about 2,000 pounds of explosives packed into a concrete stub of the formerly 210-foot-tall dam at 5:20 p.m. Sunday.

It reduced it from a height of about 55 feet to about 35 feet.

“It went exactly according to plan,” said Rainey McKenna, spokeswoman for the Olympic National Park.

The blast removed 900 cubic yards of concrete and shifted the river’s flow from the eastern side of the canyon to the western side, McKenna said.

The new stub of the dam is about 75 feet wide and more than 20 feet thick at the top, and much of it is buried under concrete rubble, rocks and silt, she said.

McKenna said the canyon is not yet passable for salmon.

More in News

Two dead after tree falls in Olympic National Forest

Two women died after a tree fell in Olympic National… Continue reading

The aurora borealis shines over Port Townsend late Monday night. Ideal conditions to view the event are from about 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. with clear skies and away from city lights or higher locations with northern views. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Northern lights

The aurora borealis shines over Port Townsend late Monday night. Ideal conditions… Continue reading

Jefferson County board sets annual goals

Discussions include housing, pool, artificial intelligence

Clallam commissioners to continue policy discussions on RVs, ADUs

Board decides to hold future workshop before finalizing ordinance

Port Angeles School District community conversation set Thursday

Individuals who want to talk to Port Angeles School… Continue reading

Sue Long, left, Vicki Bennett and Frank Handler, all from Port Townsend, volunteer at the Martin Luther King Day of Service beach restoration on Monday at Fort Worden State Park. The activity took place on Knapp Circle near the Point Wilson Lighthouse. Sixty-four volunteers participated in the removal of non-native beach grasses. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Work party

Sue Long, left, Vicki Bennett and Frank Handler, all from Port Townsend,… Continue reading

Portion of bridge to be replaced

Tribe: Wooden truss at railroad park deteriorating

Kingsya Omega, left, and Ben Wilson settle into a hand-holding exercise. (Aliko Weste)
Process undermines ‘Black brute’ narrative

Port Townsend company’s second film shot in Hawaii

Jefferson PUD to replace water main in Coyle

Jefferson PUD commissioners awarded a $1.3 million construction contract… Continue reading

Scott Mauk.
Chimacum superintendent receives national award

Chimacum School District Superintendent Scott Mauk has received the National… Continue reading

Hood Canal Coordinating Council meeting canceled

The annual meeting of the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, scheduled… Continue reading