Cantwell Bill To Restore Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Lands Passes Senate Committee

Cantwell Bill To Restore Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Lands Passes Senate Committee

The Lower Elwha Kallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act is one of the last steps of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dam removal project & will help restore fisheries

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs unanimously passed a bill to transfer federal land back to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe after decades of work to restore the Elwha River.

"Taking this land into trust boosts the habitat restoration efforts led by the Lower Elwha Tribe and federal agencies. It will help us in the recovery of all five species of Pacific salmon and other native fish and preserve the tribe's cultural and natural resources along the river. Passing this bill is an important action for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and I look forward to getting it signed into [law]," said Sen. Cantwell.

Video of her remarks in today's committee meeting is HERE; a transcript is HERE.

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act would:

• Transfer three parcels of land totaling 1,082 acres to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to be held in trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
• • The land is just outside the boundaries of the Olympic National Park and includes 1,061 acres originally acquired by the National Park Service to demolish two dams along the Elwha River.
  • The two remaining parcels were acquired by the U.S. Department of the Interior to construct a pipeline to transfer surface water to the Tribe's new fish hatchery - the House of Salmon.
• Boost habitat restoration efforts led by the Lower Elwha Tribe and federal agencies, aiding in the recovery of all five species of Pacific salmon and other native fish, including Chinook, coho, chum, pink, and sockeye salmon, along with steelhead and bull trout.
• Advance the decades-long effort to restore the Elwha River.

Land is taken into trust when land is transferred to the BIA) to be held in trust for the benefit of the tribe. The proposal is supported by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the Makah Tribe, and the City of Port Angeles.

The bill now advances to the full Senate for consideration.