The Eklutna River flowed again in 2021, briefly.

For 66 years, a diversion dam has blocked all water from flowing down the Eklutna River and causing the river to run dry, devoid of flow and devoid of fish. During the fall of 2021, water was released past the diversion dam at the outlet of Eklutna Lake and the Eklutna River was able to trace its historic path to the ocean unimpeded. This was the first time since construction of the diversion dam that water has been allowed to flow past it and into the dry river bed below.

The utility companies that own the diversion dam, which is part of the Eklutna Hydroelectric Project, are legally obligated to begin making up for its impacts to fish and wildlife by 2027, and the temporary water release was part of a scientific study to determine what needs to be done.

For a little more than 3 weeks, water was released in increments of 150 cubic-feet per second (cfs), 75 cfs and 50 cfs to help scientists understand how the downstream river reacted to flowing water, what important fish habitat was made available at varying flows, and more. The temporary water release was a great success! Important sediment was transported throughout the system, habitat that might one day support spawning and rearing salmon was observed, downstream roads and bridges were unaffected, and Alaskan’s caught a glimpse of the future that is possible for the Eklutna River.

The flows were just one-tenth of the historical volume of water that would have flowed down the river and temporary, but they provided information critical to inform the legal process that one day could return flowing water to the Eklutna River for good.

Permanently returning flowing water and fish access to the Eklutna River needs public support - pledge your support today!