National Parks - Northwest Stories Part 1: Elwha Dam

Part 3 of 3 Gary Snyder, winner of a Pulitzer Prize for poetry, has used the North Cascades as inspiration for his poems. Also, actor Lee Stetson portrays the spirit of John Muir. Muir spent his life battling dams, deforestation and those who would destroy the forests for economic gain.

In 2006 storms poured eighteen inches of rain in thirty six hours, tossing boulders, destroying roads and at one point washing away five acres of the Sunshine camp ground. Since the flood 3500 people have volunteered saving the park over three million dollars, including hundreds of students from the Student Conservation Association.

Part 1 of 3 In the last century, the Elwha River reduced salmon runs from 70 miles to five. The Elwha River dam, which supplies just enough power for a local paper mill, is scheduled to be deconstructed starting in 2011. Money from Obama's economic recovery plan, $54 million has been set aside for nine projects on Elwha River, incl