The Dungeness: a national treasure . . . .

The Dungeness River is 32 miles long, with its headwaters in the Olympic National Park.  It is the second steepest river in the U.S., dropping 7,300 feet over its length.  In the upper reaches, it drops more than 1,000 feet per mile.

The Dungeness River Area Watershed drains 173,000 acres.  There are 546 miles of streams and tributaries in the watershed.  97 miles of irrigation ditches in the watershed area carry water from the Dungeness.  It is known as a "wild river," braiding uncontrollably during flooding.

The river and its associated tributaries have historically supported populations of pink, chinook, coho, and chum salmon.  These waterways are used throughout the year at different times and by different species for migration, rearing, and spawning.

At the mouth of the river is Dungeness Bay, the home of world-famous Dungeness Crab, and other shellfish.  These species are highly vulnerable to any pollution in the river.

Also, the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge is located here.  It shelters many species of birds and mammals which are known to be at risk.  The Bald Eagles, in particular, feed primarily on fish, so they are jeopardized by any pollution in the river.

Besides the importance of the Dungeness in its own right, Washington's rivers have enormous economic value.  Residents and visitors spend more than $4 billion every year on recreational activities focused on fish and wildlife in Washington state.  The state's commercial fishing fleet hauls in nearly $300 million in wholesale and retail sales.

Finally, protecting the Dungeness River will serve as an example of how much can be accomplished with a little effort.  Caring for this river will encourage people everywhere to care for all rivers.

If you'd like to learn more about the Dungeness River, here's an excellent article from Audubon magazine:

Spawning Hope - Once an environmental and economic mainstay of the Pacific Northwest, salmon are now so scarce that their status is provoking fights across the region.  But on the quiet Dungeness River, locals long at loggerheads are teaming up to bring the fish back.

Note: This article was written before the big-box developments near the river were announced.