Optimist Daily, Oct 17 – The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe of Washington State hoped for the reintroduction of coho salmon to the Elwha River for over a century. The river, which was vital to their way of life, was obstructed by two dams in 1911, impeding salmon migration. These dams, however, were demolished in August 2014. Now, after waiting patiently, the tribe is celebrating a remarkable reunion with coho salmon, marking a historic moment. The dam removal on the Elwha River was a massive effort, widely regarded as the most extensive dam removal in history. This long-awaited change is extremely important to the community. “It means everything,” Vanessa Castle, the tribe’s natural resources technician, says, “to have that food security, to know that I can catch a fish to feed my family.” Learn MORE.