The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe has been awarded the 2025 Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce “Organization of the Year” award.
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe has made profound and lasting contributions to the greater Port Angeles community. Through leadership in the Elwha River restoration, the Tribe led the removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams, restoring salmon runs, improving water quality, and reconnecting the river from the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This transformational project has strengthened fishing, wildlife, tourism, recreation, and long-term environmental health across the entire region.
The Tribe’s leadership was also on full display through hosting Paddle to Elwha, welcoming thousands of visitors from across the Pacific Northwest and Canada. This event generated significant economic activity for Port Angeles while offering the broader community a rare opportunity to experience living Indigenous culture and intertribal traditions.
Beyond these efforts, the Tribe continues to strengthen the community through stable local jobs, essential health and social services, and ongoing leadership in habitat restoration, fisheries management, and conservation. Together, these contributions have made Port Angeles healthier, stronger, and more culturally connected through environmental stewardship, economic impact, and meaningful community partnership.