Friends of Olympic NP Newsletter
October 2011
Elwha Restoration Thursday, Oct. 13
Most Inspirational Friend, Don "Duck" Houk
Olympic Discovery Trail Comment Period open to Oct. 21
Elwha Restoration - Thursday, 7 pm
Friends of Olympic National Park will hold its annual General Membership Meeting this Thursday, October 13, at 7 pm in the Olympic National Park Visitors Center Auditorium on south Race Street in Port Angeles. The public is invited to this free event.
Dean Butterworth, Olympic NP Outreach and Education Specialist, will provide a wonderful illustrated overview of the Elwha River Restoration project.
Dam removal has begun on the Elwha River. In mid-September 2011, contractors started the three-year process of simultaneously removing the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams in order to restore a free-flowing river.
The largest dam removal project in U.S. history will reopen more than 70 miles of pristine spawning and rearing habitat in the Elwha River and its tributaries. Salmon populations are predicted to swell from 3,000 to nearly 400,000 as all five species of Pacific salmon return to one of the Pacific Northwest's most productive salmon rivers.
The Elwha is the largest watershed in Olympic National Park, and the return of salmon to this ecosystem will return marine-derived nutrients to the watershed, restoring a vital food source for the range of life that inhabits it. Dean's presentation covers the full range of fauna and flora which will benefit from restoration of Elwha salmon runs.
Brian Krohmer, project manager for the contractor Barnard Construction, has also been invited to speak on engineering of the demolition process. The process is quite different at the two dams, and progress may be followed on the live webcams.
Most Inspirational Friend - Don "Duck" Houk
Olympic NP Backcountry Carpenter Don "Duck" Houk is honored as "Most Inspirational Friend" by Friends of Olympic National Park's Board of Directors.
Duck is involved in a long list of backcountry trail bridge and structure repair and rebuilding projects each year. He was also frequently called upon to lead Park pack mule trains in support of trail crew. Each year, he has also undertaken major rehabilitation projects of significant historic Park backcountry structures, including:
2006 Bear Camp, Anderson Pass Shelters
2007 Pyramid Peak Spotting Cabin
2008 Michael's Cabin, Humes Ranch cabin
2009 Elk Lake, Mink Lake, Glacier Meadows Shelters, Hayes River RS
2010 Enchanted Valley Chalet
In 2009, Duck received the Clallam County Historical Society's Historic Structures Award for his restoration of the Humes Ranch homestead cabin.
For his planning and craftsmanship, essential to the continued existence of these historic structures, Duck is very much deserving of our thanks and recognition.
Duck has accepted a new position at Channel Islands NP, and received the award plaque at his farewell party last Wednesday, attended by dozens of his coworkers at the Park. The public award will be presented at Friend's Annual Membership Meeting this Thursday, where Trails Supervisor Larry Lack will join us to accept the award on Duck's behalf.
Olympic National Park has completed an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the effects of trail development alternatives for developing the historic Spruce Railroad grade into a non-motorized, multi-use trail from the Lyre River to the park’s western boundary in the Sol Duc valley.
The goal of developing a non-motorized, multiple-use trail along the general route of the historic Spruce Railroad grade within ONP was identified in the park’s 2008 General Management Plan and 1998 Lake Crescent Management Plan. To implement this goal, the park is considering four alternatives to provide access for a variety of trail users, while preserving the trail’s historic character, defining features and protecting other park resources, such as Lake Crescent’s water quality and important wildlife habitat.
The EA is now available for a 30-day public review and comment period through October 21. For more information or to comment , visit the Park Planning website.
Whiskey Bend Road Repairs
Whiskey Bend Road, which provides access to the Elwha trailhead, will close to all use in early October so that dam removal contractor Barnard Construction and Olympic National Park road crews can repair slide damage in two locations along the 4.5-mile gravel road. When repairs begin in October, Whiskey Bend Road will close to all use—motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and stock users—and is anticipated to reopen in late November.
Olympic Hot Springs Road remains closed beyond Altair Campground for the 3-year duration of the Glines Canyon Dam removal project.
Repairs to Graves Creek and Sol Duc Roads were completed this summer.
In March, Rep. Norm Dicks reintroduced a bill "To provide the Quileute Indian Tribe Tsunami and Flood Protection, and for other purposes" in the US House, and an identical companion bill was introduced in the US Senate by Sen. Maria Cantwell. It would transfer 775 acres of Park land near LaPush, including 222 acres of designated Wilderness near the Second Beach trail, to the Quileute tribe.
Last week, the House version of the bill was amended in committee, removing the 4100-acre Lake Crescent and 11-acre Boulder Creek (former Olympic Hot Springs Road) wilderness additions. The Senate version of the bill, retaining these wilderness additions, remains in committee. Maps of the proposed boundary adjustments are available on our website.
Visit Friends at www.friendsonp.org