Park’s Perspectives series canceled due to shutdown

PORT ANGELES — One closure included in the partial federal shutdown is the Olympic National Park’s Perspectives Winter Speaker Series.

The series, held at the Port Angeles library, will be canceled Tuesday because the national parks have been closed during the shutdown — now in its 15th day — caused by an impasse between Congress and President Donald Trump, who has said he will not sign a funding bill for the government unless it includes $5.6 billion for a wall on the border with Mexico. That isn’t going to happen, according to newly elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Kurt Jenkins, a wildlife biologist with the United States Geological Survey, was scheduled to offer a presentation on “Wolves, Elk, Rivers, and Trophic Cascades” in Olympic National Park at Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.

But since national park services are closed, the 7 p.m. lecture is canceled, according to the Port Angeles Library staff.

No one is available for information at park headquarters. Employees have been furloughed.

The Perspectives Winter Speaker Series is sponsored by the park and the Friends of Olympic National Park, as well as the North Olympic Library System.

This season’s remaining topics and dates are:

• Feb. 12 — “The Edge of the Sea: Scales of Change on Olympic Coast Beaches,” by Ian Miller, coastal hazard specialist, Washington Sea Grant, who is set to discuss studies on Rialto and Kalaloch beaches, and investigations of sea level change on the Olympic Coast.

• March 12 — “Predators and Prey: Columbian Black-Tailed Deer and Cougar Research on the Olympic Peninsula,” by Kim Sager-Fradkin, wildlife biologist, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, who is scheduled to talk about the results of a four-year study examining patterns of fawn and buck mortality on the North Olympic Peninsula.

• April 9 — “A Witness to Change,” by Janis Burger, Hurricane Ridge interpreter at the park, who is set to share photos and experiences gleaned over a 37-year career as a seasonal biological technician and longtime Hurricane Ridge interpreter.

All Olympic National Park visitor centers, restrooms, contact stations and permit desks are closed because of the shutdown.

As in the Olympic National Forest, visitors can use trails, but must do so at their own risk.

Hurricane Ridge Road is closed because park employees cannot plow during the shutdown.

Closed because of December windstorm storm damage that cannot be fixed because of the shutdown are the Queets, Quinault and Hoh rain forests, the Quinault Graves Creek Road and North Fork Road and vehicle access to Rialto Beach.

Already closed before the recent storm were Deer Park Road and Sol Duc Road — which are closed for the winter season — and the Elwha Olympic Hot Springs Road.

For more about the forest, see https://www.fs.usda.gov/olympic.

For more information about the park, see https://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm.

For more information about events at the library, visit www.nols.org or email discover@nols.org.

More in News

A demonstrator carrying an American flag walks the sidewalk in front of the Clallam County Courthouse on Saturday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Demonstrators march at courthouse

A demonstrator carrying an American flag walks the sidewalk in front of… Continue reading

Port Angeles High School twin graduates Kaylie Mast, left, and Kendall Mast, communicate with their friends by text while waiting for the start of the 2025 graduation parade on Friday. The parade began at Ediz Hook and culminated with a formal ceremony Friday evening at Port Angeles Civic Field. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Graduation parade

Port Angeles High School twin graduates Kaylie Mast, left, and Kendall Mast,… Continue reading

Suzy Ames.
College pivoting to meet deficit

School cuts more than $2 million in expenses

Pleasant Harbor Resort still seeking approval

Disagreements lead to delays and layoffs

Retiring Port Angeles School District Superintendent Marty Brewer, right, shares a career experience as his replacement, Michelle Olsen, listens during a retirement gathering on Thursday at Lincoln Center in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Olsen sworn in as PASD superintendent

Stevens Middle School name change proposed with four options

Two hospitalized following head-on collision

Two people were transported to Olympic Medical Center following… Continue reading

Royal Canadian Navy to conduct exercises

The Royal Canadian Navy’s Maritime Forces Pacific will conduct… Continue reading

Power outage scheduled in Freshwater Bay area

Clallam County Public Utility District No. 1 has scheduled power… Continue reading

Slope repair work slated for Highway 19 on Tuesday

Maintenance crews from the state Department of Transportation will… Continue reading

Mike O’Brien of Port Angeles watches as his dog, Nara, left, catches a flying disc and his other dog, Copper, waits for his turn to fetch a ball on Thursday at Erickson Playfield in Port Angeles. O’Brien said catch and fetch are favorite activities for his canine companions. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Got it!

Mike O’Brien of Port Angeles watches as his dog, Nara, left, catches… Continue reading

40-week business program under way

Advisor training part of Recompete program