PORT ANGELES — The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe will host several free events today during Celebrate Elwha!, which marks this week’s start of the removal of the two Elwha River dams.
The Elwha and Glines Canyon dams will be dismantled over three years as part of a $325 million river restoration project by the National Park Service.
The largest dam removal project in the United States will officially begin Thursday when workers take “a little off the top” of the Glines Canyon Dam, the second of the two Elwha dams west of Port Angeles.
A 200-foot crane and an excavator stationed on a barge will chisel away at the top of the 210-foot dam.
A “ceremonial scoop” of the sediment behind Elwha Dam will be removed during the invitation-only dam removal celebration there from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday’s ceremonies — which will include several hundred dignitaries including actor-environmentalist Tom Skerritt, local congressman Norm Dicks, former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, Gov. Chris Gregoire and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar — will be televised to crowds at City Pier in Port Angeles, with a rebroadcast there at 5:30 p.m.
Celebrate Elwha! activities are in Port Angeles, the Lower Elwha Klallam reservation just west of Port Angeles, Sequim and throughout the Elwha River watershed.
Gregoire has declared Sept. 12-18 “Celebrate Elwha River Restoration Week.”
TODAY’S ACTIVITIES (SEPT. 14)
■ 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. — Naming ceremony at the Lower Elwha’s new fish hatchery, 700 Stratton Road, Port Angeles, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free.
■ 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — Ellwha storytelling with Jamie Valadez and Roger Fernandes, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Lower Elwha Klallam Heritage Center, 401 E. First St., Port Angeles. Free
■ 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — Elwha open mic, Klallam Heritage Center. Thoughts on dam removal will be shared, along with poetry, songs and storytelling. Free.
■ 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.— “Elwha River Stories,” Holiday Inn Express, 1441 E. Washington St., Sequim.
Speakers are John Gussman, photographer and documentary filmmaker; Seattle Times reporter Lynda Mapes; and U.S. Geological Survey scientist Jon Warrick.
The event is free.
THURSDAY (SEPT. 15)
■ 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Elwha River Science Symposium, Peninsula College, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.
Scientists will give presentations on ongoing research of the Elwha River.
Cost is $40. See full schedule, information at http://tinyurl.com/elwhascience.
■ 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.— Elwha storytelling with tribal elders Elaine Grinnell and Ben Charles, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Klallam Heritage Center. Free.
■ 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — Yvon Chouinard presentation, Peninsula College gym.
Chouinard, environmentalist and founder of the outdoor clothing and gear company Patagonia, will talk about the dams’ removal.
Free, but registration requested — go to http://tinyurl.com/elwhascience.
FRIDAY (SEPT. 16)
■ 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — Elwha River Science Symposium continues at Peninsula College. Cost is $35.
■ 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. — Sunset Cruise with Expeditions Northwest. Sold-out. Phone 360-452-6210 or visit www.expeditionsnw.com for details.
■ 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. — Lower Elwha Klallam Gala Fundraising Dinner, Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
Speakers are former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley and actor-environmentalist Tom Skerritt.
Tickets for the gala are $150 and $300.
They can be purchased at the Klallam Heritage Center or online at http://tinyurl.com/elwhatickets.
■ 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — Coastal jam session, Klallam Heritage Center. Free.
■ 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. — Dana Lyons concert, Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles. Tickets: $10-$12.
■ 7:30 p.m. to midnight — Music with Linda Dowdell and Craig Buhler, Wine on the Waterfront, 115 E. Railroad Ave., Port Angeles. $3 cover.
■ 8:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. — “Hear and See Poetry” with poet Sean Mac Falls, Bar N9ne, 229 W. First St., Port Angeles. Free.
SATURDAY (SEPT. 17)
■ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Elwha Central, sponsored by First Federal. City Pier, Port Angeles.
Music, vendors and river restoration demonstrations.
National Park Service Ranger Jeff Wolin is master of ceremonies. Free.
■ 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Dam removal ceremony, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Elwha Dam (invitation-only, but televised to Elwha Central at City Pier. Rebroadcast at 5:30 p.m.)
■ 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. — VIP reception, Lake Crescent (invitation-only).
■ 5 p.m. — Potlatch dinner, 5 p.m., Lower Elwha Klallam tribal center, 2851 Lower Elwha Road. Free.
■ 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. — “Brats, Brew and Wine, Too” harbor tour. Cost: $25. Phone 360-452-6210 or visit www.expeditionsnw.com for details.
■ 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.— “eTown” recording with musical guests Cake, Danny Barnes and Eliza Gilkyson, Port Angeles High School auditorium, 304 E. Park Ave.
$20. Tickets available at www.artsnw.org and www.brownpapertickets.com.
■ 9 p.m. to midnight— After-hours music with The Girdle Scouts and SuperTrees, Bar N9ne, 229 W. First St., Port Angeles. Free.
■ 9 p.m. to midnight — Music with The Winterlings, Wine on the Waterfront, 115 E. Railroad Ave., Port Angeles. $3 cover.
SUNDAY (SEPT. 18)
■ 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Guided hike to Elwha Dam viewpoint, Elwha Dam RV Park, 47 Lower Dam Road, Port Angeles. Free.
■ 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., guided hike to Hurricane Hill. To reach the trailhead, take Hurricane Ridge Road past the Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center. Free.
■ 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — “Explore Elwha with NatureBridge,” a series of educational events throughout the watershed. Free shuttles provided at City Pier.
Celebrate Elwha! guide
Copies of Celebrate Elwha!, a comprehensive guide and schedule of dam removal events this week, is available at the Peninsula Daily News offices in Port Angeles, 305 W. First St., and online at http://tinyurl.com/elwhaguide.
