From March 20-22 2025, for the Spring Equinox, International Day of Forests and World Water Day, the Elwha Legacy Forests coalition helped organize and host a series of events to celebrate and connect the dots between the health of our forests, the health of our waters and the health of our ecosystem. We hosted two Indigenous Cinema Climate Showcase film events, a Water Blessing Ceremony, and two community hikes in existing or former WA DNR timber sales.

We were joined and supported by the First Nations Club at Peninsula College, Earth Law Center, S’Klallam and Lummi Tribal Citizens, the Orcas and Tree from Toki TV and many others.

We hosted a celebration of DNR’s cancellation of the 126-acre Power Plant timber sale along the Elwha River and the Olympic Adventure Trail! The DNR has proposed preserving 69 acres of it in the Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) program. The fate of the remaining 57 acres are still unclear, but also deserve preserving.

Speakers included Elizabeth Dunne, with Earth Law Center, WA state Rep. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, 2016 Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Bryant of Seattle, and Port Angeles City Council members LaTrisha Suggs. Also in attendance were Port Angeles City Council members Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin and Navarra Carr, and Eric Pickens, President of the Sequim School Board and candidate for WA state Representative. It was great to see such support from our elected representatives! We also had great folk music from Kevin MacCartney and Steve Koehler.

Celebrants were invited to explore and follow the trail that borders Unit 3 to visit the former lower Elwha Dam site.

See this page for more info the Power Plant timber sale, including maps and photos and the Peninsula Daily News article on the event.