Spillway project will drown wildlife habitat in the Toutle River Valley

I was alarmed to learn today that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intends to begin work on raising the Toutle River Sediment Retention Structure spillway next summer. This will flood and destroy the vibrant ecosystem which has reclaimed the land behind the dam. The landscape behind the dam is a complex and beautiful tapestry of wetlands, forests, and meadows. It is important habitat for migratory birds, elk, and many other species. Huge numbers of birds nest there each spring. That will all be lost, and take decades to recover, if the spillway is raised.

Additionally, having lived here in Toutle my whole life, I’m intimately familiar with the river and the debris field from which the sediment originates. In the past several years, the quantity of sediment transported downstream has decreased significantly, despite no further action being taken by the Corps of Engineers in that time. Additionally, I have observed in the National Monument that landslides and erosion have decreased significantly, that vegetation is rapidly stabilizing volcanic debris, and that the river no longer moves as much in its bed as it did just a few years ago. Essentially, my observations lead me to conclude that the situation will soon resolve itself, and that extreme actions to control sediment are no longer as necessary as they once were.

Downstream dredging and upstream artificial logjams have proven to be effective and reliable methods of dealing with sediment. Spending millions of taxpayer dollars to raise the spillway is a waste of money which would be better used elsewhere. Please write to your elected representatives and the Corps of Engineers and ask them to cancel, or at least pause, the raising of the Toutle River Sediment Retention Structure Spillway.

Contact info:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: https://www.usace.army.mil/Resources/Contact/

Cowlitz County Commisioners: https://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/166/Board-of-Commissioners

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez: https://gluesenkampperez.house.gov/contact

Senator Patty Murray: https://www.murray.senate.gov/write-to-patty/

Senator Maria Cantwell: https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact

Support New Protections for Streams in Washington's Forests!

The Washington State Forest Practices Board is considering much needed and long overdue protections for streams in Washington's forests. The streams in question are known as “Type Np streams”. They do not contain fish, but they form the headwaters for our most important salmon habitat, running year-round and flowing directly into waters that do support fish. 

Under the current rules, trees can be harvested down to the edge of the stream for up to 50% of the length of Type Np streams. As a result, there are often areas near these streams that do not have enough trees to provide shade to help prevent the water from warming after harvest. To protect cool water and prevent temperature pollution, the proposed new rule would require more trees around streams. The widths of the proposed buffers vary from 50 to 75 feet, depending on site conditions.

The bad news is that timber industry groups are working hard to block this rule from being implemented, so it’s important that we speak out in support of it during the comment period.

Here’s what you can do:

• Send a written comment supporting the proposed protections for Type Np streams via email to forest.practicesboard@dnr.wa.gov
• Attend and speak in support of protections for Type Np streams at an in-person hearing:

- Wednesday, July 23, 4 p.m. – McClelland Center, 951 Delaware Street, Longview, WA 98632

- July 29, 4 p.m. – Sedro-Woolley Community Center, 703 Pacific St, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284

- August 4, 4 p.m. – Vern Burton Gym, 308 East 4th Street, Port Angeles, WA

- August 12, 4 p.m. – Office Building 2 Auditorium, 1115 Washington St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501

Be sure and send your written comments before 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 18, 2025!

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Restoring access to Mowich Lake

When the Fairfax Bridge over the Carbon River was closed, it cut off easy access to the Northwest corner of Mt. Rainier National Park, and it will be many years before construction might even begin on a replacement. There is a very real possibility that it will not be replaced at all, and while there are advantages to making that backcountry a remote and little-visited haven for wildlife, it does mean that more people will be crowded onto the finite number of trails elsewhere in the region. However, there is a solution to this problem which if swiftly acted upon could restore access to Mowich Lake and the Carbon River within just the next few years. It might surprise you to learn that the Mowich Lake Road isn’t the only route accessing this backcountry area, and that not all of Mt. Rainier lies within Mt. Rainier National Park. The western feet of the mountain protrude from the border of the park and onto private land, with clearcuts scarred into the slopes of Mt. Rainier itself. A network of logging roads extends from the Ashford area, all the way to the Mowich Lake Road, crossing both the Puyallup and Mowich rivers on bridges. All we need to do is acquire the commercial timberland adjoining the Western side of Mt Rainier National Park, and we could quickly reopen a public access route to Mowich Lake.

Forest Practices Reform article published in "Works In Progress"

 

Hi Everyone, my article with an in-depth discussion of the problems with current forest practices, and the necessary ways in which forestry needs to be reformed, was recently published in "Works In Progress". It's definitely worth a read: https://olywip.org/forging-an-evergreen-future-for-washingtons-imperiled-forests/

I've also published a documentary video on the topic:

OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.8 II Review

I had the opportunity to test out the new 25mm f1.8 II lens from OM System this month alongside the OM-3, so I decided to produce this hands-on review. It's a really cool little lens, and I've thoroughly enjoyed shooting with it over the course of February. While this was intended primarily as a video review, I will go over very quickly some key things I liked best about it, as well as the few downsides to it in the following article. I will also share some of my best images captured with the lens.

Stop the Carrot Timber Sale!

 

The Carrot Timber Sale would clearcut an irreplaceable grove of mature legacy forest in Capitol State Forest near Olympia. This timber sale is also nearby to the Sherman Valley Campground, and would degrade the experience of visiting this popular region. Legacy forests such as that threatened by the Carrot Timber sale provide immense benefits to our communities, wildlife, and climate. Once cut they cannot be replaced, and very few such forests remain. 

Tell WADNR and your elected representatives to halt the Carrot timber sale and protect all of our legacy forests!

Who to contact:

WADNR South Puget Sound Region: southpuget.region@dnr.wa.gov 

Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz: cpl@dnr.wa.gov 

Board of Natural Resources: bnr@dnr.wa.gov

Stop the Cake Walk Timber Sale - Save Sherman Valley Legacy Forest!

 

The beautiful trees of the Sherman Valley Legacy Forest stand sentinel over the popular Lost Valley trail, a path frequented by hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders alike, yet this remnant of our quickly vanishing natural heritage is in imminent danger of being clearcut as part of the Cake Walk Timber Sale. Sadly, the Board of Natural Resources chose to approve this and many other sales in irreplaceable legacy forests throughout Washington State despite vocal public opposition and the clear necessity of protecting our last remaining older forests.

Tell WADNR and your elected representatives to stop the Cake Walk Timber Sale and save our legacy forests!

Who to contact:

WADNR South Puget Sound Region: southpuget.region@dnr.wa.gov 

Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz: cpl@dnr.wa.gov 

Board of Natural Resources: bnr@dnr.wa.gov

Stop the Evergreen Gold timber sale - Save this Legacy Forest

 

This beautiful legacy forest in the Capitol Hills near Olympia, WA is about to be auctioned off and clearcut by the Washington Department of Natural Resources. We cannot allow this to happen. The Evergreen Gold timber sale must be canceled.

Contact info for WADNR:

WADNR South Puget Sound Region: southpuget.region@dnr.wa.gov

Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz: cpl@dnr.wa.gov

Board of Natural Resources: bnr@dnr.wa.gov

Rainy Day at the Wildlife Refuge

I enjoyed a challenging day of photography at a wildlife refuge during a rainstorm. The Sandhill Cranes were grazing in the fields, and a hawk was clearly enjoying the chance for a refreshing bath, but most other wildlife seemed to be hunkering down and waiting for the sun to make an appearance!

Aurora in the Pacific Northwest - October 2024

The Aurora Borealis shimmers over the slumbering fields as skeins of clouds rush across the sky to obscure the light show in its silent dance high up above the surface of the Earth. Capturing these photos and video last night as the Northern Lights made a rare appearance here in the Pacific Northwest was a magical experience.

Save Coyote Mountain Legacy Forest - Stop the Luna Tix Timber Sale!

A remnant legacy forest high on the slopes of Coyote Mountain near Mt. St. Helens is a bastion of biodiversity on Washington State public lands. However, the Washington Department of Natural Resources plans to cut it down as part of the Luna Tix timber sale. 

Please contact the WADNR and tell them to cancel the Luna Tix timber sale and protect our last legacy forests before it's too late!

WADNR Pacific Cascade Region: pacific-cascade.region@dnr.wa.gov

Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz: cpl@dnr.wa.gov

Glacier National Park Adventure - Day 1: The Journey East

 

Glacier National Park is one of the few parks which you may travel to by rail via Amtrak's Empire Builder train. In the summer of 2023, my family made this journey from Washington to Montana, and since I couldn't go I sent along a GoPro so they record their adventures. This video is the first in a 6 part series chronicling their journey.

Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS | Sports Lens Review

The Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 DG DN OS Sports lens may be the best such bright, telephoto zoom for L or E mount cameras. In this video I take it out in the field to see what it's capable of, paired with the Sigma FP L and Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K.

Sunrise at the end of Autumn

 

On a chilly morning in early November, the sun ascended through the layered clouds, gilding their translucent fronds with golden hues and lighting up the sky with a sunrise that swelled and dimmed and swelled again.

I haven't posted a single-shot timelapse like this in a very long time, but this was nice enough that I decided to leave it as-is. I love using the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 to add a little motion to timelapses, and the footage it captures with it's 1-inch sensor is really impressive.

Purple Martins

Purple Martins hanging out at a marina, watching the sunset from wires and their own porch steps. Their distinctive call echoes over the water as the dusky hue of these big mouthed birds slowly blends into the night sky.

Snorkeling with Spider Crabs

 

Beneath the calm waters of Puget Sound, Spider Crabs battle over fields of waving anemone at high tide. Snorkeling in these cold waters is challenging, but the reward is incredible sights of natural beauty. Glowing orange, crowned with gardens of living seaweed, or concealed by mud and algae, Spider Crabs are unusual denizens of the Salish Sea.

Stop the Juneau Timber Sale - Save Washington's Legacy Forests!

 

The Juneau Timber Sale would devastate one of the last legacy forests in the Capitol Hills of Washington State. The Washington Department of Natural Resources (WADNR) utilizes bad and outdated forestry practices that are harming our public lands. Join me on a hike to Mima Falls where I expose the poor forestry practices that are rampant under the current management strategy of the WADNR: Clearcut logging, monoculture plantation forests, and the destruction of older, natural forests.

Learn more and take action: https://www.wlfdc.org/juneau

FPV drone flight, crash, and recovery from the snow!

Flying in the snowy forest with an FPV drone is fun, but dodging through narrow gaps is a dangerous sport! I tried to make a sharp turn with the DJI Avata, but had too much momentum and ended up in snow bank. Fortunately, we were able to locate it using the ESC beep, and the drone made it through without a scratch!

Stop the McCannon Timber Sale! Save old growth trees in the Cannon Creek Valley

The giant trees of Cannonball Creek are in grave peril. Unless immediate action is taken to stop the McCannon timber sale, these ancient giants will soon be cut, and this vibrant ecosystem will be lost forever. Please write to the Washington Department of Natural Resources and Commissioner Hillary Franz and tell them to cancel the McCannon timber sale.

We are losing our legacy forests at an alarming rate, and it’s vital that what little is left be protected. Please contact your Washington State representatives and Governor Inslee and ask them to protect all forests which naturally regenerated prior to 1945. 

Take action here: https://www.wlfdc.org/mccannon

Stormy Day at Coffenbury Lake

 

Dark storms loom over the dark waters of Coffenbury Lake, it's quiet waters shinning on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Fort Stevens State Park. Wind roars, thunder booms to match the crashing waves, and rain dances on the troubled waters, before calm once more settles on this idyllic haven.