A river runs through it ... once again (reprise)

The Wild with Chris Morgan

KUOW News and Information

Science, Nature

4.8 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 19 November 2024

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It started as a glacier. Then, about 13,000 years ago, it was a trickle, then a stream, and eventually a rushing river meandering through the Olympic Peninsula. For thousands of years, life thrived off the ecosystem served by the Elwha River that fed into to the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Then it stopped. A century ago, a dam was built to harness the power of the water and convert it into electricity. The salmon that the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe relied on were cut off from their spawning grounds.

Ten years ago, that dam was taken down. In this special reprise episode, we look at the impact of the dam removal and how life in and around the Elwha is fighting its way back.

This show would not be possible without listener support. You can help us continue to create this special immersive storytelling by donating at kuow.org/donate/thewild. Thank you.

THE WILD is a production of KUOW, Chris Morgan Wildlife, and the NPR Network. This episode was produced by Matt Martin and edited by Jim Gates. THE WILD is hosted, produced and written by Chris Morgan. Fact checking by Apryle Craig. Our theme music is by Michael Parker.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hearing static when you enter a tunnel in the middle of a fascinating story,
0:05.4	hanging out in your driveway to catch the end of a report, we've been there.
0:08.9	With the KOWW app, you can listen to your favorite programs anytime and anywhere.
0:13.6	No driveways required.
0:15.1	Let's get going.
0:16.0	Download the KW app now, available for iOS and Android.
0:21.4	I'm Monica Nicholsberg. On the latest episode of booming, what will the end of the free trade
0:26.3	era mean for Washington's economy and the people who live here? Listen to booming on the KUOW app or
0:32.3	wherever you get your podcasts. This is a special archive episode of The Wild. I hope you enjoy.
0:40.6	It all started with a single drop of water around 13,000 years ago.
0:47.2	A glacier high up in the mountains started to melt.
0:52.3	That steady drip became a trickle, and eventually a river.
0:57.6	Birds, insects, mammals, and fish began to call it home.
1:03.9	An ecosystem was born, and life began to flourish.
1:09.5	For thousands of years, the river floweded free from 5,000 feet up in the
1:14.6	mountains down into the Strait of Wandafuka on the edge of the Pacific Ocean until 100
1:21.1	years ago a moment ago in the life of a river but But in that moment, everything changed.
1:31.3	A dam was built, two dams to be exact, and the water of the Elwhar River in Washington State was halted.
1:39.3	For human progress, hydroelectricity, for human life.
1:45.0	But life as the river knew it started to crumble.
1:48.0	And as the dams were constructed, the ecosystem became dismantled.
1:54.0	But a river is patient.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from KUOW News and Information, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of KUOW News and Information and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.