Dam Removal on the Elwha: An Urgent Need for Biotic Survey and Inventory

授予华盛顿大学对奥林匹克国家公园内的埃尔瓦河谷进行生物多样性调查和清单研究的奖项。有史以来最伟大的自然实验之一将于2012年开始，届时国家公园管理局将完成拆除奥林匹克国家公园内埃尔瓦河上的两座水电站大坝。这些水坝是迄今为止拆除的最大水坝，为研究河流生态系统的恢复提供了一个独特的机会，对其他地方拆除水坝作为一般保护战略的价值产生了深远的影响。 拆除大坝带来的科学机会是巨大的，但它们取决于生物多样性的基本知识。这项研究将为今后比较河流开放后的生物恢复情况提供关键信息。这项工作将汇集专业生物学家和机构，部落，学术界和公民科学家的集合，收集，识别和清点大坝拆除前埃尔瓦的无脊椎动物和非维管植物的当前组合。该项目包含重要的教育和推广部分，为研究生和本科生提供培训和研究机会，也为附近的半岛学院，埃尔瓦族的成员都渴望参与其中公众也将受益于网站开发和公园管理局的解释。拆坝越来越被视为恢复河流生态系统的一种手段。这项工作将为评估大坝拆除的成功或失败提供所需的证据。

An award is made to the University of Washington to conduct a biodiversity survey and inventory study of the Elwha River Valley in the Olympic National Park. One of the greatest natural experiments of all time will begin in 2012 when the National Park Service completes the removal of two hydroelectric dams on the Elwha River in the Olympic National Park. These dams, by far the largest ever to be removed, constitute a unique opportunity to study the recovery of a river ecosystem, with profound implications for the value of dam removal elsewhere as a general conservation strategy. The scientific opportunities presented by the removal of the dams are enormous, but they depend on base-line knowledge of biodiversity. This study will provide the crucial information required for future comparison of biotic recovery following the opening of the river. This work will bring together professional biologists and an assemblage of agency, tribal, academic, and citizen scientists to collect, identify, and inventory the current mix of invertebrates and non-vascular plants of the Elwha before the dams are removed.This project contains significant educational and outreach components, providing training and research opportunities for graduate students and undergraduates, but also for those at nearby Peninsula College, where members of the Elwha Nation are eager to get involved. The general public will benefit as well through web-site development and Park Service interpretation. Dam removals are increasingly viewed as a means of restoring river ecosystems. This work will provide the evidence needed to evaluate the success or failure of dam removal.