Mount Constance and Mount Deception, part of the basaltic peripheral formation, are the second and third tallest peaks in the Olympic Mountains. Due to their location on the leeward side of the mountain range, they receive drastically less precipitation than the tallest peak to the west, Mt. Olympus. These igneous and dry eastside peaks are not only subject to less erosion, giving them their sharp, craggy appearance, but less rain/snowfall in these headwaters affects everything living downstream.  

After draining the snowfields of the fragile, treeless alpine zone, the Dungeness River plunges steeply through the subalpine and montane forest as it works its way towards the Strait of Juan de Fuca.   Where the Graywolf River joins the Dungeness about 15 miles downstream, the river emerges from its steep canyons and begins to flatten. Unconfined by narrow canyon walls, the river slows down, meanders, and deposits loads of sediments in the lowland plains that have been smoothed over by the work of ice sheets from the past. Finally, the Dungeness pours itself into saltwater.  

The Dungeness makes its way through several ecosystems on its 28-mile journey towards the sea. Each zone is subject to different landforms and conditions, and each supports a unique community of life.  

The Dungeness River Audubon Center will host a virtual exploration of the Dungeness watershed every Tuesday for four weeks beginning Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. We’ll take you on a journey through the watershed week by week investigating each zone and the plants and animals inhabiting them.  

We’ll also take a look into how humans have changed the landscape and the river through irrigation, levees, logging, development, etc. And we’ll explore the solutions and plans, both implemented and under discussion, for a more harmonious existence with the special and dynamic Dungeness watershed.  

Class will be led by Powell Jones DRAC Director, and Jenna Ziogas DRAC Education Coordinator   Click here to sign up!