The United States Congress has given final approval to legislation transferring approximately 1,082 acres of federal project lands along the Elwha River into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, concluding a twelve-year administrative effort following the largest dam removal in American history.
2388 in the House, praised the bipartisan coalition that advanced the package without recorded dissent.
However, the change in jurisdiction restores tribal police and natural resource authority over riverbanks that had been isolated under federal administrative oversight.
1513, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is prohibited from conducting any gaming activities authorized under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, including both Class II bingo operations and Class III casino gaming, on any portion of the 1,082 transferred acres.
Bull trout, a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act, reconnected fragmented resident populations with migratory coastal runs for the first time in ninety years.
Bipartisan legislation championed by Washington Senator Maria Cantwell returns over 1,000 acres of federal project lands from the historic Elwha dam removals into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.