Author to Speak on Return of Elwha River

Tuesday, October 11, 7 p.m., Emmanuel Parish Hall

— from Jean Lyle —

Seattle Times reporter Lynda V. Mapes takes a look at an old growth stump revealed on the bed of the former Lake Aldwell after the removal of Elwha Dam. The giant trees were cut before filling Elwha Dam in 1910. Credit: Steve Ringman, The Seattle Times.

The world’s largest dam removal project, the demolition of the Glines Canyon and Elwha Dams, set the Elwha River free to run again after close to a century of being blocked. Salmon now migrate up the river to spawn in over 70 miles of river that was once unavailable and trapped sediment has rebuilt clamming beaches that disappeared after the dams were built.

For many, the recovery is the realization of what once seemed a far-fetched. Lynda Mapes, famous environmental reporter at The Seattle Times and author of the book, Elwha: A River Reborn, will speak on this amazing accomplishment. She will describe how the watershed is surging back to life and will tell stories about how not only fish, but also animals and plants are renewing the Elwha river and its ecosystem. She will also talk about remaining challenges, including getting fish passage right and getting rid of the trash left behind by the demolition.

Lynda Mapes specializes in coverage of the environmental, natural history, and Native American tribes.

The talk is free and takes place at 7pm on October 11 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church’s Parish Hall in Eastsound.

The 2016-17 Marine Science Lecture Series is designed to inspire the general public and to highlight the amazing fish and wildlife of our region. Lectures are free.

The Lecture Series is presented by program partners The SeaDoc Society and YMCA Camp Orkila. It has been made possible through generous sponsorship by The Averna Family and (Deer Harbor Charters), Barbara Bentley and Glenn Prestwich, Barbara Brown, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Audrey and Dean Stupke, West Sound Marina, Inc. and Martha Wyckoff in honor of Lee Rolfe.  For more information visit https://www.seadocsociety.org/events