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Central Washington University

The Elwha River Restoration: Landscape Change, Salmon, and Sense of Place

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Removal of the Elwha River dams to restore the ecosystem and salmon fisheries is the largest project of its kind in the history of the United States. Spanning decades and affecting generations, this project has changed and will continue to change the landscape. This research examined the influence of the anticipated return of salmon on 18 key stakeholders' sense of place of the Elwha River. For almost all stakeholders, changes to the Elwha landscape are welcomed as they expect that salmon will restore the ecosystem to its natural state. Narrative data revealed dominant themes in participants' sense of place expressed through memory, symbol, and nostalgia. The return of salmon, as a culturally significant species, marks change in participants' perceptions of the Elwha.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science (MS)
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Resource Management
Year dc:date.available
2013

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Johnson, Kelseyanne
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Kathleen Barlow
  • Hope Amason
  • Jennifer Lipton

Subjects

dc:subject × 15

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1421
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-2446

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Central Washington University
Base URL
digitalcommons.cwu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Johnson, Kelseyanne. The Elwha River Restoration: Landscape Change, Salmon, and Sense of Place. 2013. https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1421