The SeaDoc Society and YMCA Camp Orkila present “Lynda Mapes on the Return of the Elwha” on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall in Eastsound.

The world’s largest dam removal project, the demolition of the Glines Canyon and Elwha Dams, set the Elwha River free to run again after close to a century of being blocked. Salmon now migrate up the river to spawn in over 70 miles of river that was once unavailable and trapped sediment has rebuilt clamming beaches that disappeared after the dams were built. For many, the recovery is the realization of what once seemed a far-fetched.

Lynda Mapes, famous environmental reporter at The Seattle Times and author of the book “Elwha: a River Reborn” will speak on this amazing accomplishment. She will describe how the watershed is surging back to life and will tell stories about how not only fish, but also animals and plants are renewing the Elwha river and its ecosystem. She will also talk about remaining challenges, including getting fish passage right and getting rid of the trash left behind by the demolition. Mapes specializes in coverage of the environmental, natural history and Native American tribes.