Congress Approved Elwha River Land Transfer

The bill returns 1,100 acres to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, finalizing a long-term river restoration project.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in National Parks

Congress Approved Elwha River Land Transfer

Live Poll

Should the federal government prioritize returning historic tribal lands to Indigenous nations for environmental restoration?

Congress has passed legislation to transfer 1,100 acres of federal land along the Elwha River to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe in Washington. This move marks the final phase of a massive $325 million dam removal project that concluded 12 years ago.

Why it matters

The transfer enables the tribe to oversee the long-term healing of the river and secures access to traditional foods and medicines. It returns land to the tribe for the first time since the 1855 Point No Point Treaty.

The land transfer involves 1,100 acres stretching from Highway 112 to the Highway 101 bridge. This restoration follows the removal of two dams that had submerged the tribe's creation site for a century.

The players

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe

This is a federally recognized tribe based in Washington that holds deep historical and cultural ties to the Elwha River valley.

President Donald Trump

As the current President of the United States, he must sign the legislation for the land transfer to become official.

The details

Tribal leaders and national park staff have toured the project lands to facilitate the transition. This area is historically significant to the tribe, with carbon dating showing Klallam life existed at the site more than 8,000 years ago.

The Point No Point Treaty was signed in 1855.
The Elwha River dam removal project was completed 12 years ago.
Tribal members have been fishing the river for four years.
Congress passed the land transfer bill in Fall 2026.
Tribal leaders toured the transition lands in October 2026.

Travel Outlook

This land transfer follows the precedent set by the 1855 Point No Point Treaty, which established the original legal framework for the tribe in this region. The return of the land marks a final step in restoring tribal oversight to the river valley.

Visitors to the Elwha River region should be aware that land management and access rules may shift as the tribe assumes control of the 1,100-acre area. Travelers should check local signage near the Highway 101 bridge and Highway 112 for updated access policies.

The takeaway

The transfer returns ancestral lands that were submerged for over a century, allowing for expanded youth education and restoration. It serves as a milestone for tribal sovereignty and ecological health in the Olympic Mountains region.