The Elwha's four miles below the dam is akin to the head of a pin when it comes to the spawning habitat above the illegally built dam. Removal will increase the production of that river beyond our wildest fears for the lower tidbit we call the lower Elwha.

I only wish there was so much concern for the welfare of the river and it's species when these Damns were built in the first place! Too late now, but to stay on topic our pacific northwest rivers systain cycles of catastrophic siltation from the young volcanic geography (ie: St.Helens). Certainly where there is sufficient habitat above the dams (the reason to remove them in the first place) then the resilient salmonids will survive siltation below, and without much doubt they will thrive in the extended habitat that is much more suited to reproduction of the species naturally.

The matter is just far more important the the interests of the few landowners who are concerned that the dock on their lake is going to be high and dry, and the walk to the river that replaces the still water will be too far from the cottage. The treasure of 100 pound wild chinook in the Elwha, now extint, is no man's private wealth but it is a treasure for the northwest, the world, the cosmos.

.02

Juro
http://www.flyfishingforum.com