Guide to the Eklutna Dam Removal Project photographs and video
2016-2018
Collection number: HMC-1317.
Creator: Eklutna, Inc.
Title: Eklutna Dam Removal Project photographs and video.
Dates: 2016-2018.
Volume of collection: 6.93 GB.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Digital photographs and drone video related to the removal of a dam in the Eklutna River.
Organizational history:
Eklutna, Inc. was incorporated in 1972 under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and is one of about 175 village corporations in Alaska. It is the largest private landowner in the Municipality of Anchorage and also owns land in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The Corporation engages in both residential and commercial land development, as well as sand and gravel mining, topsoil processing, and snow removal.
The Eklutna Dam was built in 1929 to supply hydroelectric power to Anchorage. The dam has been unused since 1955 when a new dam, able to provide more power, was built upstream. Eklutna, Inc. took possession of Eklutna Canyon, including the dam, following the passage of ANCSA. In 2015, Eklutna, Inc. began a project to remove the dam, in order to restore salmon populations, which had been destroyed by the building of the dam. Demolition of the dam began in 2017 and was completed in 2018.
Collection description:
The collections consist of photographs and drone video of the area surrounding Eklutna Dam and the deconstruction of the dam. The images show scenery, the dam, and construction equipment. The collection also includes an index to the images containing descriptions and the dates the images were created.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged in the order in which it arrived in the Archives.
Digital materials: The digital contents of this collection are not available online. Access may only be provided on-site in the Archives research room. For more information about potential distance access to digital records, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives and Special Collections owns copyright to materials in the collection.
Preferred citation: Eklutna Dam Removal Project photographs and video, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory:
“About Eklutna Inc.” Eklutna Inc. www.eklutnainc.com/about-eklutna/ (accessed March 5, 2019).
“Natural Resource Development.” Eklutna Inc. https://www.eklutnainc.com/natural-resource-development/ (accessed March 5, 2019).
Tunseth, Matt. “For 89 years, a dam blocked salmon on the Eklutna River. It’s finally gone.” Anchorage Daily News. August 24, 2018. https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2018/08/24/removal-of-eklutna-river-diversion-dam-complete/ (accessed March 5, 2019).
Acquisition note: The collection was donated to the Archives and a deed of gift signed by Noel Aspiras of Eklutna, Inc.
Processing information: This collection was described by Gwen Higgins in 2019.