Historic events are taking place along the Elwha River, just 12 miles from Olympic Park Institute’s (OPI) campus.  The Elwha is the largest watershed in Olympic National Park, with 80% well preserved inside the park’s boundary (see watershed map below).  Historically, this watershed was among the Pacific Northwest’s most productive for fish and wildlife, supporting all the species of Pacific Salmon, including Chinook which weighed over 100 pounds.

*Photo curtesy of NOAA Fisheries
Two dams were erected on the river early in the last century, disrupting the natural ecosystem and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s way of life.  After lengthy legal and political proceedings, the dams are scheduled for removal in 2009.  Students are helping to study this groundbreaking project, doing field work in preparation for the upcoming removal of both the Elwha River dams.  The 210 foot upper dam will be the largest ever removed in our country's history, helping to once again provide 70 miles of blocked habitat for the salmon.

The dam removal creates a unique educational opportunity.  OPI is seizing this opportunity through The Elwha Science Education Project.  This project will allow students to study the scientific and cultural aspects of dam removal and river restoration, while also tying directly into scientific monitoring activities.  Currently OPI offers a sequence of day trips for North Olympic schools, and a week-long residential program based at our campus on scenic Lake Crescent for schools from outside the immediate area.  This unprecendented project serves as an important case study for students and provides an inspiring framework that contextualizes science with explorations in the beauty and history of the area.

Monitoring Conditions in the Ecosystem

Our programs provide students the opportunity to study several sites throughout the watershed.  Students learn about the cultural and natural history of the river while collecting data that serves as the basis of OPI’s ongoing monitoring projects.  With guidance from our Research Advisory Committee, OPI is carefully piloting and implementing protocols to monitor the ecoystem's conditions.  Equipped with the techniques and skills gained through OPI experiments, students could design and conduct their own project, investigating the interconnections between forest, rivers, or lakes.

Get Involved

This is a rare opportunity to allow students to apply interdisciplinary skills, assisting with a real-world ecological experiment and exploring this inspiring and hopeful experience.

Contact Demis, our Program Development Director, to get involved: dfoster@yni.org