 Below the dam, Cle Elum River continues south to join the Yakima River on the west side of the city of Cle Elum.A Northern Pacific Railway station at the future site of the city of Cle Elum was named Clealum after the Kittitas name Tie-el-Lum, meaning "swift water", referring to the Cle Elum River.In 1908, Clealum was altered to Cle Elum.