News Release

Quillayute River Restoration ‘Reach 3’ Project underway

Map of the river closure and floodplain closure near Mora Campground

NPS

News Release Date: June 9, 2022

Contact: Olympic National Park - Public Affairs Office

The Quillayute River Restoration ‘Reach 3’ Project is now underway for the summer and is expected to be completed in the fall. The project is managed by the Quileute Tribe and is focused on aquatic habitat restoration and bank stabilization between river mile 1.7 and 2.9. The project includes installation of large wood structures and excavation of high-flow pilot channels. The project will take place mostly on tribal trust land but a portion of the project will occur within Olympic National Park near Mora Campground. Campers and visitors in the Mora area should expect intermittent noise from construction activities and from helicopter flights during daylight hours beginning June 20 through 24. Helicopter flights may extend into the weekend to June 26 depending on weather. The project also requires the following closures:

 

• A portion of the Quillayute River floodplain adjacent to Mora Campground is now closed for public safety until the project is complete in the fall. See the attached map of the closure area. This closure does not include the Mora Campground, picnic area, or any portion of the Slough Trail. 

 

• The Quillayute River will close to boating and all other traffic from the park boundary downstream to the confluence of the Dickey River from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm daily from June 20 to June 24. The closure may be extended to June 26 depending on weather. This closure is required for public safety during helicopter overflights hauling heavy wood construction material. Richwine Bar is the last pullout for boaters during the river closure. Access to Quileute Reservation Lands is controlled by the Quileute Tribe. 

 

• The Dickey River Boat Launch will be closed from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm daily from June 20 to June 24 with a possible extension to June 26 if there are delays due to weather. 

The project is designed to benefit a wide range of resources and avoid impacts to existing infrastructure, visitor access, boater safety, or natural conditions within Olympic National Park and the Quileute Reservation. The objectives of the restoration project are:

• to redirect high river flows into the floodplains and away from sensitive banks;
• to reduce risk of flooding, streambank erosion, and avulsion of the lower Quillayute River to protect the community of La Push;
• to improve salmonid habitat for both juvenile and adult fish;
• to improve fish passage upstream during low flow conditions; and 
• to provide sustainable and improved access to the river.  

The National Park Service, in partnership with the Quileute Tribe, released the Quillayute River Restoration - Reach 3 Environmental Assessment (EA) for a 30-day public review and comment period in July 2021. The EA is available on the National Park Service Planning, Environment & Public Comment website. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Northwest Region and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are cooperating agencies. The Quileute Tribe was awarded state and federal funding for the restoration project through the Washington Coast River Resiliency Initiative, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Natural Resources Conservation Services- Environmental Quality Incentives Program.