Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe starts Roosevelt Elk Study
With an interest in the long-term sustainability of elk populations on the north Olympic Peninsula, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe has started a three-year research project aimed at gathering baseline data of the elk herds that reside between the Elwha River and Clallam Bay.
The tribe has two key goals: To gather basic ecological information on the Roosevelt elk that live in the Elwha River region prior to deconstruction of the Elwha dams in 2012; And to develop methods for longer-term monitoring of these herds. This will allow the tribe to determine if the elk population is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable over time. This study will provide the tribe with information about seasonal elk movement patterns, habitat requirements, and population size and structure. (more…)