BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TO HOST 39 TEAMS THIS WEEKEND
The City of Port Angeles Recreation Division and the Port Angeles Boys and Girls Basketball Clubs are gearing up for the Martin Luther King Jr. basketball tournament this weekend. The 39 teams participating will make this the one of the biggest January tournaments in the 17-year history of the event.
Thirty-one boys' teams and eight girls' teams will be playing in 5th through 8th grade divisions. Port Angeles has a representative in the 5th, 6th & 7th grade boys' divisions, and the 6th and 8th grade girls' divisions.
The 25 teams from off the Peninsula will bring over 500 visitors to the area, each spending one or two nights in Port Angeles. Gig Harbor alone accounts for six of the teams coming to play.
Other cities represented among the teams from off the Peninsula will be Arlington, Auburn, Bellingham, Bremerton, Edmonds, Everett, Kent, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Maple Valley, Meadowdale, Peninsula, Poulsbo, Port Orchard, Seattle, Silverdale, Seattle, Tumwater, and Vashon.
Games get under way at noon on Saturday at Port Angeles High School, Stevens Middle School, Roosevelt Elementary School, and the Vern Burton Memorial Community Center, with final games scheduled for late Sunday afternoon.
A total of 78 games will played over the two days on seven different courts. T-shirts go to the winners and most runners up in each division along with team plaques. The games are open to the public for a slight admission charge.
For more information, contact Dan Estes, Special Events Coordinator at 360-417-4557 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING
Christmas Trees will be collected curbside in the City of Port Angeles during the week of January 9, 2012. Trees must be cut into 4-foot lengths, bundled, and put out on your regular garbage collection day. Please no tinsel, flock, or ornaments. You do not have to be a yard waste subscriber to get this once-a-year free service.
“Each year we collect about 600 Christmas trees for composting” reports Helen Freilich, Waste Reduction Specialist. “This is a great service for our residential customers who need to get rid of their tree”.
County residents can take their trees to the yard debris area of the Regional Transfer Station, Monday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. This year there are no holiday closures at the Transfer Station. A minimum yard waste fee of $5.00 is charged. The trees are mixed with other yard debris and made into Garden Glory Compost.
For more information visit; www.cityofpa.us/pwSolidWCollections.htm, or contact Helen Freilich, City of Port Angeles Waste Reduction Specialist, at 417-4874 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Following Review of Public Comments, Olympic National Park to Revise Spruce Railroad Trail Environmental Assessment
Olympic National Park has finished reviewing public comments received on
the Spruce Railroad Trail Expansion and Improvement Environmental
Assessment (SRRT EA) and has determined that a revised SRRT EA will be
developed in 2012.
The revised EA will supersede the original EA, and could include
development of new alternatives. Another 30-day public comment period and
public meeting will be scheduled. New impact analysis will be undertaken
for any new alternatives developed in the revised SRRT EA.
“Members of the public brought up important issues, particularly
surrounding accessibility, safety, and visitor experience, and we will
fully examine and analyze them as we develop the revised EA,” said Olympic
National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin.
A total of 143 responses were received by the park during the public
comment period, including letters, emails and responses submitted through
the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC)
website. All public responses will be posted on the PEPC website in early
2012, minus commentors’ names and personal information.
The SRRT EA was developed in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Endangered
Species Act (ESA), and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). This project would
implement actions identified in the park’s 2008 General Management Plan
(GMP) and the 1998 Lake Crescent Management Plan (LCMP) to extend and
improve the existing Spruce Railroad Trail (SRRT) located on the north
shore of Lake Crescent and to construct new trail along the historic
railroad grade in the park’s Sol Duc area.
The purpose of this project is to improve the historic Spruce Railroad
grade within Olympic National Park, as a non-motorized, multipurpose trail
as identified in the GMP and LCMP. This includes the existing Spruce
Railroad Trail.
CITY OF PORT ANGELES HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
City Hall and Offices
Closed December 26, 2011, and January 2, 2012.
The Port Angeles Regional Transfer Station
Open regular schedule of Monday through Saturday from 9am until 5pm. No holiday closures.
Collections
Residential weekly garbage collections will be on regular schedule December 26 through December 30, and January 2 through January 6 for both garbage and recycling collections.
Christmas Tree Recycling
Christmas Trees will be collected during the week of January 9, 2012. Trees must be cut into 4-foot lengths, bundled, and put out on your regular garbage collection day. Please no tinsel, flock, or ornaments. It is not necessary to be a yard waste subscriber to get this once-a-year free service
Winter Weather and Collection Delay Reminder
Winter weather and icy road conditions can delay collections. During bad weather, please leave carts out until they can be emptied.
CITY OF PORT ANGELES
Transfer Station Information Line: 360-417-4875
Recycling: 360-417-4874
Garbage Collections: 360-417-4876
Website: www.cityofpa.us
December Fish Runs Wind Down on Elwha; Dam Demolition to Begin Again Monday
An interagency team of biologists closely monitoring the returns of fish to the Elwha River have determined that the late fall runs of chum salmon have trickled to a end, allowing contractors to begin dam removal work two weeks earlier than projected. A planned stoppage of sediment-releasing dam removal work has been in place since November 1 to protect fish runs in the river. There are three such work stoppages, also known as “fish windows” throughout the year.
Adult chum salmon were collected and transferred to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s fish hatchery, which is acting as a clear-water refuge during the dam removal period when extensive sediment is being released into the river. Offspring of the collected chum will be released into the river this spring.
Dam removal contractor Barnard Construction, Inc. has adjusted their work schedule and will be ready on Monday, December 19 to begin dam demolition again.
Plans for next week at Elwha Dam include diverting the river back into the right channel (looking downstream) and beginning another reservoir drawdown, increasing flows by approximately 150 cubic feet per second (cfs.)
At Glines Canyon Dam, crews will reassemble the barge and excavator-mounted hydraulic hammer and complete modifications to the onsite crane, with dam demolition work scheduled to begin on December 27.
Although access to the actual demolition sites is not allowed, options exist for interested people to watch the process of dam removal.
Six webcams, available through the Olympic National Park website (http://www.nps.gov/olym/) or directly at http://www.video-monitoring.com/construction/olympic/js.htm provide updated images throughout daylight hours.
Viewing Elwha Dam Removal Removal work at Elwha Dam can be also be viewed via a short overlook trail which leads from a trailhead parking area just off Lower Dam Road to a
viewing location above the dam.
Viewing Glines Canyon Dam Removal Because of public safety and site security concerns, there is currently no public viewing of the Glines Canyon Dam removal process except via webcam. Olympic National Park is working to provide public viewing opportunities for the Glines Canyon dam by summer 2012.
WATERFRONT / OLYMPIC DISCOVERY TRAIL - REOPENS
Work to repair the section of the Waterfront & Olympic Discovery Trail located between the east side of the Rayonier Mill parking lot at the footbridge, to the approximate area where the trail begins to curve to the south near Morse Creek, has been discontinued for the winter. The trail is open.
The project will resume in early spring to finish planting and repairs to the asphalt.
If you need additional information related to this project, contact Jim Mahlum, Project Engineer, at 417-4701. And visit: www.cityofpa.us/parkrec-waterftrail.htm
$10,000 first prize for Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby Presidents Day Weekend Winter Blackmouth Classic
The 2012 Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby will be held over Presidents Day Weekend, February 18-20 2012. Like last year, the 2012 event is huge – with 500 square miles of fishing, five weigh stations, and a $10,000 first prize. This year there are three great Mystery Fish prizes. This event, formerly the Discovery Bay Salmon Derby, is hosted by the Gardiner Salmon Derby Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that supports area emergency and other services. This winter blackmouth classic is part of the Northwest Marine Trade Association’s “Northwest Salmon Derby Series.”
Association president Dan Tatum is excited. “This should be another great derby. Last year was fantastic, but this year should be even better.” Derby volunteers will staff weigh stations at all five launch ramps: Freshwater Bay, Ediz Hook in Port Angeles, John Wayne Marina in Sequim, Gardiner, and Port Townsend Boat Haven. Submitted fish will be inspected but won’t be collected, so the weigh-in process will be fast and efficient. Every fish submitted has a chance to win one of the three Mystery Fish prizes – $1,000, $500, and $500. There will be many other great prizes as well. The awards ceremony will be held on Monday the 20th at the Gardiner Boat Ramp at 2:00PM, and will also include a cash prize raffle. Tatum adds “Before the Monday awards ceremony, this year we’re having a free BBQ starting at 11:00. It will be a fun time for anglers and local neighbors.”
Tickets for the event cost $40 for one day or all three days. Tickets go on sale the first week in January at many area merchants, and also on-line at www.SwainsInc.com. (Tickets will also be available at the five launch ramps, but ONLY on Saturday 2/18.) Ticket sales will be limited, so be sure to get a ticket early! This event uses selective fishery – clipped-fin hatchery fish only – and it benefits emergency and other vital services for Gardiner, Diamond Point, and nearby communities. For more information, including derby rules, visit www.GardinerSalmonDerby.org.
Contact:
Dan Tatum, 360-797-7710
Sonny Sixkiller to make Crab Festival Appearance
The Port Angeles Crab and Seafood Festival is honored to feature Sonny Sixkiller, the “game changing” quarterback for the University of Washington Huskies (from 1970-72). Sonny was an iconic figure in the early 70’s as he not only led winning teams but also because of his groundbreaking work as an American Indian athlete. Sonny currently works closely with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe in connecting community with tribal events and his presence at “CrabFest” marks the beginning of a long-term partnership with the Tribe and it’s commitment to the people of Clallam County.
Wearing Number 6 on his jersey, Sonny awed Northwest fans at the UofW and went on to co-star in The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds. He was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame in 1985 and the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.
Sonny will be at The Cedars of Dungeness food booth in the Gateway Center on Sunday October 9, from 11am-1pm.
A big weekend for Port Angeles
This past weekend was a big weekend for Port Angeles. Saturday marked the official start of the removal of the two dams blocking the flow of the Elwha River, and the Sprint Boat races were held
at the new Extreme Sport Park where over 8,000 people enjoyed the perfect day of racing.
For more information about the Elwha Dam removal Click Here, For information about the Sprint Boat races Click here.
Dam Webcams Go Live: NPS Installs Webcams to Enable Online Viewing of Elwha, Glines Canyon Removal Work
Webcams have been placed facing both the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams, the
deltas at the southern ends of the Lake Aldwell and Lake Mills reservoirs,
and along the northern shore of each reservoir. While the primary purpose
of the webcams is to monitor the process of sediment movement, viewers will
be able to get a direct view of each dam as the removal process progresses.
This weeks start of dam removal and the ongoing restoration work on the
river has generated interest regionally, nationally and even
internationally. We think this is a unique and effective way to reach out
to people interested in the Elwha River and its restoration, said Olympic
National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin. Olympic National Park is
pleased to see these cameras go online this week. Please visit the page and
check back regularly to keep track of these exciting changes.
Removal of the 210-foot Glines Canyon Dam which will become the largest dam
removed in U.S. history begins September 15. Removal of the 108-foot Elwha
Dam begins September 17. Both are scheduled to be removed simultaneously
over the next three years.
