Olympic National Park begins its monthly speaker series, with first program on Nov. 18

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — This season’s Perspectives series will address topics ranging from bees to river restoration to sea star wasting syndrome to the state of Blue Glacier.

Olympic National Park and Friends of Olympic National Park schedule all but one of the free Perspectives programs on the second Tuesday of each month through May.

The first program, “A Little Bit About Bees,” will be the third Tuesday of the month, Nov. 18, because of the Veterans Day holiday next Tuesday.

All programs are at 7 p.m. at the park visitor center at 3002 Mount Angeles Road in Port Angeles.

Seating is limited, so attendees are urged to arrive early.

Park bees

About 4,000 species of native bees exist in North America, and there may be 800 species in the park, according to Jerry Freilich, the park’s research coordinator and director of the North Coast and Cascades Science Learning Network, who holds a doctorate in aquatic ecology.

Most bees are tiny, do not bother people and are vital to the ecosystem as pollinators, Freilich said.

He will discuss the haunts and habits of some of the lesser known species.

‘Free at Last’

Andrew Ritchie, park geomorphologist, will present “Free at Last: Elwha River Through Three Years of Dam Removal” on Dec. 9.

The past three years have seen dramatic changes in the Elwha Valley as millions of tons of sediment are released from behind the dams, Ritchie said.

He will discuss how the river has responded to the shift from a sediment-starved to a sediment-rich system.

The disappearance of the Mills and Aldwell reservoirs and the sediment wave moving downstream, the growth of logjams and river bars, and the growing beach at the mouth of the Elwha River will be illustrated through time-lapse videos and fly-throughs.

Demolition of the last dam on the Elwha River, the Glines Canyon, was finished in August. Elwha Dam was demolished by March 2012.

Lakebed restoration

Joshua Chenoweth, park restoration ecologist, will present “Jump Starting Recovery” on Jan. 13.

He will tell the continuing story of revegetation and restoration of the former lakebeds of the Elwha Valley.

Fish in the park

Sam Brenkman, park fisheries biologist, will discuss studies of fish in the park Feb. 10 in “Perspectives on the Role of Science and Technology in Managing Pacific Salmonids in Olympic National Park.”

The presentation will explore some of the technologies being used to unveil the distribution, abundance and migration patterns of salmonids.

Some featured techniques include radiotelemetry, genetics, environmental DNA and ear bone chemistry.

The presentation also will reveal findings from headwaters to sea snorkel surveys and thermal imaging in major Olympic Peninsula rivers.

Sea star wasting

The impacts of sea star wasting syndrome, as documented by long-term surveys and citizen science monitoring, will be presented March 10.

Melissa Miner, a researcher with the University of California, Santa Cruz, will present “Sea Star Wasting Syndrome: Losing a Keystone Predator.”

Sea stars are dying by the millions on the West Coast of the syndrome in which they seem to be sick and “deflated” and then “melt” into a white substance.

Blue Glacier

Howard Conway of the University of Washington will present “Blue Glacier: Past, Present and Future” on April 14.

Like other alpine glaciers worldwide, Blue Glacier in the Olympic Mountains has shrunk.

The University of Washington has conducted research on Blue Glacier since 1957, creating a record of change that is among the longest for any glacier in North America.

Conway has a doctorate in chemical and process engineering.

More in News

Kennel containing puppies hit by vehicle on highway

A kennel containing puppies fell out of a truck and… Continue reading

Firefighters with Clallam County Fire District 3 work to extinguish a fire Tuesday afternoon in the 100 block of Barnes Road. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Man found dead following house fire

A man was found dead inside a home after a… Continue reading

With standing water over the roads this time of year, big splashes from puddles is expected. This garbage truck heading out on Ediz Hook on Wednesday unleashes a large spray from a big puddle on the road. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Road wash

With standing water over the roads this time of year, big splashes… Continue reading

Period now open for health questions

Open enrollment runs through Dec. 7

Port Townsend expects $18M in public works expenditures next year

Director covers more than $73M in six-year capital facilities plan

Derek Kilmer.
Congressman Kilmer to work with Rockefeller Foundation

Twelve years in Congress to come to an end

Former state Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Lake Sutherland, said 18 years in public office was a “life-altering experience.” (Kevin Van De Wege)
Van De Wege reflects on political career

Former senator to continue firefighting, begin consulting

Boys Girls club raises $600K at annual event

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula raised… Continue reading

Tracy Ryan, a nurse at Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend, stands in front of one of the hospital’s maternity ward rooms. (Grace Deng/Washington State Standard)
Rural maternity wards are struggling to stay afloat

State and federal lawmakers are trying to help

Jefferson County approves transportation plan

Six-year improvement outlook budgeted for more than $94M

Rainwater collection presentation canceled

The Rainwater Collection 101 presentation scheduled for 6:30 p.m.… Continue reading