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

Crews work to remove metal siding on the north side of Field Arts & Events Hall on Thursday in Port Angeles. The siding is being removed so it can be replaced. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Siding to be replaced

Crews work to remove metal siding on the north side of Field… Continue reading

Tsunami study provides advice

Results to be discussed on Jan. 20 at Field Hall

Chef Arran Stark speaks with attendees as they eat ratatouille — mixed roasted vegetables and roasted delicata squash — that he prepared in his cooking with vegetables class. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Nonprofit school is cooking at fairgrounds

Remaining lectures to cover how to prepare salmon and chicken

Port Townsend Main Street Program volunteers, from left, Amy Jordan, Gillian Amas and Sue Authur, and Main Street employees, Sasha Landes, on the ladder, and marketing director Eryn Smith, spend a rainy morning decorating the community Christmas tree at the Haller Fountain on Wednesday. The tree will be lit at 4 p.m. Saturday following Santa’s arrival by the Kiwanis choo choo train. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Decoration preparation

Port Townsend Main Street Program volunteers, from left, Amy Jordan, Gillian Amas… Continue reading

Port Angeles approves balanced $200M budget

City investing in savings for capital projects

Olympic Medical Center Board President Ann Henninger, left, recognizes commissioner Jean Hordyk on Wednesday as she steps down after 30 years on the board. Hordyk, who was first elected in 1995, was honored during the meeting. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
OMC Commissioners to start recording meetings

Video, audio to be available online

Jefferson PUD plans to keep Sims Way project overhead

Cost significantly reduced in joint effort with port, city

Committee members sought for ‘For’ and ‘Against’ statements

The Clallam County commissioners are seeking county residents to… Continue reading

Christopher Thomsen, portraying Santa Claus, holds a corgi mix named Lizzie on Saturday at the Airport Garden Center in Port Angeles. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Peninsula Friends of Animals. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Santa Paws

Christopher Thomsen, portraying Santa Claus, holds a corgi mix named Lizzie on… Continue reading

Peninsula lawmakers await budget

Gov. Ferguson to release supplemental plan this month

Clallam County looks to pass deficit budget

Agency sees about 7 percent rise over 2025 in expenditures

Officer testifies bullet lodged in car’s pillar

Witness says she heard gunfire at Port Angeles park