ELWHA, Wash. – The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe has been informed that they received the
Conservationist of the Year Award from the Society of Ecological Restoration’s Northwest Chapter for
“The Tribe’s Central role in bringing to fruition the dam removal” which is “clear, and well-recognized
by other partners in the Elwha project,” states Allison Warner, SERNW Chapter President.
The award recognizes the entire Tribe as an entity but specifically recognizes the leadership of two
people within the Tribe.
“We recognize the leadership of Frances Charles, who has shown a great dedication to the cultural
restoration of her people and has remained steadfast in her support of this project.” Warner also
recognized previous Tribal leaders in noting that Chairwoman Charles “continues in the footsteps of
the tribal leaders before her in achieving this historic victory for the Tribe.”
The second person specifically recognized for his work on the project was River Restoration Director,
Tribal member, and Elder, Robert Elofson, who Warner states, “has been involved since the initiation
of the effort to getting the law passed, in the Alternatives analysis and in preparation of the Elwha
Report. The Tribe’s foundation and investment in numerous other restoration projects within their
watersheds under Robert’s leadership, positioned them strategically with the knowledge and
experience as a partner for sound science in this effort.”
“What an honor it is for the Tribe for the Society to recognize the years of work the Lower Elwha
Klallam Tribe has put into the Elwha Dam removal and to our ongoing efforts in other watersheds of
the North Olympic Peninsula,” states Robert Elofson, River Restoration Director. “This award is not
the work of one or two people seeking dam removal, but years of the excellence of the Elwha staff and tribal
community working towards what is right for our community and our environment.”
The Conservationist of the Year Award is given to a person or entity “for recognition for year-long
efforts to preserve, protect, restore or enhance environments necessary for healthy ecosystems.”
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe resides in the Lower Elwha River Valley and adjacent bluffs on the
north coast of the Olympic Peninsula just west of Port Angeles, Washington. As recognized by the
United States in the 1855 Treaty of Point No Point, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe has lived in this
area since time immemorial. The Tribe’s current land-base was initially acquired by the United States
in trust for the Tribe in 1935-36 and these lands were proclaimed as the Lower Elwha Reservation in
1968. Today tribal lands include about a thousand acres of land on and near the Elwha River