Return of the River is a striking documentary that follows a story of the Elwha River, whose waters were unleashed after a long period of being bounded by a 200-feet-high hydroelectric dam. The construction of the dam had completely transformed the ecology of the river, thereby harming its salmon population that was prevented from exploring its natural habitat. In addition to disrupting the river’s ecosystem, the power project ruined the lives of many native societies. The livelihoods of the members of Elwha Klallam tribe, who were not officially considered the US citizens until the late 1920s, were destroyed by a flood that followed the construction of the dam.
The documentary shows that the demolition of the power plant was an important milestone for the Elwha’s unique ecosystem. In approximately 50 years, a territory that was flooded will be covered with forest. Salmon populations are expected to recover in less than a decade. It follows that the consequences of similar human projects can be ameliorated by concerted political and social efforts.
The documentary emphasizes the negative impacts of the brutal force with which people alter natural flows of rivers. The outcry raised by the opposition of the dam removal was supported by a desire to preserve the economic status quo. The desire served as a testament to the egregious disregard of the environmental consequences of the Elwha’s flow alteration. It means that the success of the project should be used to fortify environmentalists’ conviction in proceeding with similar missions across the country and changing minds of those who are blind to the devastating effects of dam construction. It is extremely important because by engaging in river restoration, it is possible to achieve better environmental outcomes for future generations of Americans.