Video: Year of the River

2011 was an important year for the health of the river systems in the Pacific Northwest. With the launch of two dam removal projects on the Elwha and White Salmon Rivers, the ecosystems that surround those two waterways have begun the process of returning to their more natural states. That transformation is documented in the beautiful new short film by Andy Maser, which you can watch below.

In the video, we get a glimpse of how setting these rivers free will eventually have a dramatic, and lasting,  impact on the region. Not only will it provide more whitewater for paddlers, but it will allow the natural migration of the fish species to resume – something that hasn't happened in nearly a century.

The dam removal project is an important one for many reasons and it is amazing that it is finally happening, nearly 30 years after it was first proposed.


Year of the River from Andy Maser on Vimeo.