PORT ANGELES — Demolition of Glines Canyon Dam has prompted the closure of Altair Campground from July 2 to July 31, Olympic National Park officials announced this week.
Contractors will use a series of controlled blasts to lower the dam next month as part of the ongoing $325 million federal project to restore the Elwha River’s ecosystem and its once-famous salmon runs.
Blasting will result in more sudden releases of water than with the hydraulic hammer that was used to remove the top half of the once 210-foot-high Glines Canyon Dam.
Altair Campground is located less than 2 miles downstream from what’s left of the dam.
“While we regret the inconvenience to our visitors, safety concerns dictate that we must close Altair Campground for the month of July,” Acting Park Superintendent Todd Suess said in a statement.
Barnard Construction, the contractor for dam removal, has limited time to blast because of predetermined fish windows.
Work to lower Lake Mills was halted May 1 for the last fish window.
“With the rest of the summer work season restricted by ‘fish windows,’ Barnard needs to maximize their efforts throughout July,” Suess said.
Twenty-one shots of explosives, each requiring 30 to 60 holes drilled into concrete, are planned from July until the end of the project.
The last remnants of the former Elwha Dam 9 miles downstream from Glines Canyon were removed in March.
Whiskey Bend Road
Meanwhile, Whiskey Bend Road above Lake Mills will be closed daily from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from June 25 to June 29.
The Monday-through-Friday closure is necessary to provide safe passage for heavy trucks hauling material from the dam.
The road will reopen daily at 5:30 p.m. and stay open until 7 a.m. to allow trailhead access.
Park officials remind visitors that the Glines Canyon and former Elwha Dam sites are still active construction areas and closed to the public.
While the changing landscape on the former bed of Lake Aldwell is open to the public, a Wednesday blog post on the National Park Service dam removal website said conditions “are constantly changing and are hazardous in some locations.”
“Stay as least 20 feet from the edge of riverbanks and use extreme caution when exploring,” it said.
“Riverbanks are actively eroding and may be unstable.”
Webcams of the dams removal and reservoir drawdown are available through the Olympic National Park website at www.nps.gov/olym.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
