What Lives Down There?

See some of the many organisms that make their home at the Elwha river delta

Near the Elwha River delta, fresh river water mixes with saltwater that comes through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and flows over a variety of bottom substrates and kelp beds, providing a broad range of habitat for many organisms. As a result, the shallow depths of the nearshore Strait of Juan de Fuca are home to a diverse array of underwater life. Check out the videos and photos in our Image Gallery at the right to meet some of the many creatures that call the Elwha nearshore home.

When the Elwha River dams were removed between 2011 and 2014, it impacted the nearshore habitats of the river delta and, in turn, the creatures that live within them. Learn more about out how the dam removals changed these habitats in the next section, “Coastal Sediment.”