PORT ANGELES — Toni Wade’s job at StreamFest on Sunday was just a little bit “buggy.”
Wade spent the day catching insects, frogs and other critters out of the two ponds on the Mantooth property, where StreamFest is held annually.
“The golf course and the road are just west of here, and then Ennis Creek is exactly east,” Wade said.
So the ponds, which are man-made, act as a filter, keeping fertilizer and oil from the roads from creeping into the creek, she said.
A variety of bugs can be found in the ponds now, which are showing little or no traces of oil sheen, she said.
Dragonflies in all different stages of life, spiders, frogs and sticklebacks were all on display for those stopping by to see.
Most migrated to the ponds on their own, but the sticklebacks were added as a method to control mosquitoes, Wade said.
Wade, a longtime biology teacher in Port Angeles who has a master’s degree in biology, said she encourages people stopping by StreamFest to look into the educational opportunities available from the Merrill & Ring logging company.
“Kids should be out in the woods learning as much as possible — not just in the classroom,” Wade said.
Such learning is one of the goals of StreamFest.
The annual event is a fundraiser for the North Olympic Land Trust, said Robbie Mantooth, who puts the festival together on her land each year.
Because admission is free and no tickets are used, it is not known how many people attended Sunday’s event, Mantooth said.
On the grounds, there were tours, a silent auction, entertainment, food and more.
The 25 educational booths offered information about issues related to the environment of the North Olympic Peninsula.
One topic was the removal of the Elwha Dam, which is expected to restore salmon habitat starting in 2011.
“We like to say that StreamFest is all about education and inspiration,” Mantooth said.
“We want to educate people what is going on and inspire to do what they can.
“It is a great way for people to come enjoy local food and learn about the area we live in,” Mantooth said.
The silent auction went late into the evening, so the money that was raised for the land trust was not available.
Established in 1990, the land trust has been instrumental in protecting 60 properties and more than 2,059 acres across the Peninsula. The nonprofit trust manages some properties and directly owns others.
Mantooth is also the volunteer communications specialist for the land trust and StreamFest.
For more information, visit www.nolt.org.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
