PORT ANGELES — An estimated 600 people flocked to Ennis Arbor Farm on Sunday for music, food and knowledge shared at the second annual StreamFest, a celebration of Clallam County’s fragile environment.
The event — which showcased a who’s who of environmental groups, their interests and issues — offered presentations that touched on topics ranging from stormwater management to the toxic waste cleanup of the former Rayonier mill site.
“It’s a great way to bring people together . . . a good place to learn,” said Robbie Mantooth as the event wrapped up Sunday afternoon on the rustic homesite near Peninsula Golf Club she shares with her husband, Jim.
The strains of bluegrass music and sweet scent of fresh baked salmon wafted through the air, lending to the festive occasion bordering the Mantooths’ pristine flower gardens and orchards.
Besides 30 booths exhibiting a bounty of information, about 10 sponsor booths from local businesses were also represented, showing their support for a healthy environment.
The event’s main sponsor was North Olympic Land Trust, which protects the special features of the Mantooths’ property near Ennis Creek, part of 1,000 land-trust acres in the county.
Besides guided walks of Ennis Creek, draft horse-pulled hayrides rolled through the woods and Olympic Park Institute presented games for children.
Groups, organizations and businesses represented at booths included Valley Creek Estuary project, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Merrill and Ring Tree Farm, Rayonier, Friends of the Fields, Surfrider Foundation, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Natural Resources Department, Clallam County Olympic Discovery Trail, Friends of Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, Olympic Environmental Council, Olympic Park Institute, Olympic National Park, North Olympic Salmon Coalition, Westwind Farm, Clallam Conservation District, Streamkeepers and Washington Trails Association.
