Lake Mills (Washington)

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Mills
image_lake = IMG_1203.jpg
image_size = 400
caption_lake = Lake Mills
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Olympic Peninsula, Washington
coords = coord|48|00|07|N|123|36|00|W|region:US-WA_type:waterbody_source:gnis|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow =
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catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
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elevation = convert|545|ft|m|abbr=on
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cities =

Lake Mills is a reservoir formed by the Glines Canyon Dam on the Elwha River located about 13 miles from the mouth of the river on the Olympic Peninsula. It is fully contained within Olympic National Park. The lake was created behind the Glines Canyon Dam. It was formed in 1927 with the completion of the dam and after the lowland forest that occupied the river bottom was clear-cut. With no fish passage facilities, the dam blocks passage of anadromous Pacific Salmon from the upper 50+ miles of the Elwha watershed located within Olympic National Park.

The Elwha Ecosystem Restoration project will remove the Glines Canyon Dam in 2012 and the lake will be drained. Olympic National Park crews will revegetate the area to speed up ecological restoration and improve the habitat for the return of the salmon.

Today, Lake Mills is habitat for rainbow trout, bull trout, and Dolly Varden trout who use the lake as their "ocean", because the dam blocks access to the Pacific Ocean. It is expected upon removal of the dam that these fish will return to their natural anadromous lifestyle.Fact|date=September 2008

External links

*gnis|1523198|Lake Mills