Over the last 20 years, the City of Hoquiam has worked towards both removing their West Fork Hoquiam River Dam (used as a surface water diversion for City water supply) and replacing the City’s water supply with groundwater wells. The City and other local stakeholders want this nearly 70-year-old dam removed for a number of reasons – it’s aging past its design life, it blocks salmon habitat, and replacing the City’s water supply with groundwater wells will improve the water supply and water quality for the City’s customers. In 2023, predesign and feasibility is underway -- with help from a $1.2 million grant from NOAA -- and actual dam removal anticipated within the next five years.
Dive deeper into the exciting progress in the accompanying Story Map for this project.