PORT ANGELES — The most recent results of the Elwha River restoration project will be presented to the public during a free science forum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Peninsula College.
The event will be the first public presentation of results of the river restoration since the last remnants of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams were removed in August 2014, restoring upstream passage for salmon.
The forum is part of the three-day 2015 Elwha River Science Symposium hosted Wednesday through Friday by the Elwha Research Consortium and Peninsula College.
The symposium will include field trips to
river sites and formal scientific presentations by researchers on their work following the removal of the dams.
Most of the symposium’s scientific discussions and tours are closed to the public, as scientists who study the river share their findings with other scientists.
Posters, film
The free public forum Thursday will begin with viewing informational posters at 6:30 p.m., followed at 7 p.m. by a screening of the award winning documentary “The Return of the River,” a film on the history of the dams, the
dam removal and the early signs of recovery on the river.
Producers John Gussman and Jessica Plumb, who received two awards at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival this year for their work on “Return of the River,” will be present to discuss their film.
The film was also recognized for conservation impact and received the Marian Zunz award for emerging filmmakers.
Following the film, a panel discussion will provide an opportunity for the audience to discuss the research and science associated with the project with several leading scientists studying the river.
The public forum at the college’s Pirate Union Building will include panelists Guy Gelfenbaum, coastal geologic and oceanographic researcher for the U.S. Geological Survey; Dr. George Pess from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Kim Sager-Fradkin from the Lower Elwha
Klallam Tribe; Andy Ritchie, hydrologist for the Elwha River restoration project, and Joshua Chenoweth, botanical restorationist for Olympic National Park.
The event is sponsored by Peninsula College, the National Parks Conservation Association and NatureBridge at Olympic National Park.
