PORT ANGELES — The budget for the Elwha River restoration project is $324.7 million, including $44.4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, also known as stimulus money.
The stimulus money provided funding for 10 projects related to river restoration and was obtained with help from U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, whose 6th Congressional District includes Clallam and Jefferson counties.
The funding also allowed the dam-demolition part of river restoration to begin in 2011 instead of 2012.
In 1995, the project was estimated to cost between $75 million and $101 million, and tear-down was scheduled to start in 2004.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the spending so far:
■ $79 million: Lower Elwha Klallam tribe’s water treatment facilities, including a new industrial water treatment plant, completed in April 2010.
■ $29.9 million: Dam acquisition process
■ $27.6 million: City of Port Angeles water treatment plant was completed.
■ $26.9 million: Dam removal, scheduled to begin in September 2011.
■ $16.4 million: Lower Elwha Klallam tribe’s fish hatchery.
■ $8.3 million: Lower Elwha Klallam tribe’s wastewater collection system. Completion is scheduled for June 2012.
■ $8 million: Upgrades to the federal levee along the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe’s reservation to guard against flooding when the dams are removed.
