Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Wild-fish groups to sue over Elwha River hatchery

One of the dams to be destroyed in the Elwha River restoration project. A fish hatchery slated to be part of the restoration has raised concerns.
One of the dams to be destroyed in the Elwha River restoration project. A fish hatchery slated to be part of the restoration has raised concerns.

SEATTLE — Wild-fish advocates say they plan to sue federal and Washington state agencies over a fish hatchery built as part of the Elwha River restoration project.

Wild Fish Conservancy and others say the hatchery threatens the recovery of salmon and other threatened fish. They say the process did not go through proper review.

The groups filed the 60-day notice of intent to sue late last week. It names the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries Service, the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife and others.

NOAA's Will Stelle told the Seattle Times (http://bit.ly/oh6ZBO) the hatchery program has been open to review.

Over the weekend, hundreds gathered at the Elwha Dam on Washington's Olympic Peninsula to witness the start of the project to remove two dams.

The Associated Press (“AP”) is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news from the AP. Founded in 1846, the AP today is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering. The AP considers itself to be the backbone of the world’s information system, serving thousands of daily newspaper, radio, television, and online customers with coverage in text, photos, graphics, audio and video.