NNWR reopening......Part 1 of 2: the ceremony

[Russ]

Longtime members may recall that I frequently post shots from the nearby Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (NNWR), located between Tacoma and Olympia and the estuary formed by the confluence of the Nisqually River into the Puget Sound. It is one of the last great, largely natural estuaries left in the region. Almost a hundred years ago pioneers diked off part of the delta to recover the land for agricultural purposes. Through concerted efforts the land was acquired by the US Fish & Wildlife and then in conjunction with the neighboring Nisqually tribe and assistance of Ducks Unlimited it is undergoing a massive reconstruction to return it to a more natural state. Thursday was a grand reopening ceremony for the new inner dike on top of which will be a trail. In conjunction with a 1+ mile elevated boardwalk extension over the flooded estuary zone will largely substitute for the removal of the 5.5 mile Brown's Farm dike trail around the estuary that was leveled. I came to hike the new section and see what wildlife I could see, hoping that the ceremony would be off to one side but alas it was smack dab on the elevated section and blocking the way!!!.....so I stayed for the speeches.

Here is a link to Gary Chittim, King 5 TV's environmental reporter, video clip (less than 3 minutes including a few second ad)....worth seeing for the eagles and geese alone.

1. Representatives of the Nisqually tribe drum and chant as part of the opening ceremony. Later a tribal elder bestowed her blessings on the event.

Canon 20D, 17-85mm @ 53
ISO400, f16, 1/40 sec, polarizer

2. US Congressman Norm Dicks, a 32 year Representative, former UW alum and linebacker for the Huskies (local boy!!!), and a 2008 recipient of the Ansel Adams Conservation Award by The Wilderness Society gives a few welcoming words....and plugs for a few other projects!!!

Canon 20D, 100-400mm @ 400
ISO400, f8, 1/320 sec, polarizer
tripod, Sidekick

3. NNWR manager Jean Takekawa of US Fish & Wildlife also makes some remarks.

Canon 20D, 100-400mm @ 400
ISO400, f8, 1/125 sec, polarizer
tripod, Sidekick

4. The official "opening" included the requisite ribbon cutting, here featuring (left to right) Congressman Dicks, NNWR mgr Takekawa, Cynthia Iyall - Tribal Chair of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, and Tom Dwyer - Conservation Director for Ducks Unlimited. I'm shooting from down the steep banking on the side of the elevated dike to get just the sky.

Canon 20D, 100-400mm @ 100
ISO400, f8, 1/160 sec, polarizer
tripod, Sidekick

5. While the speakers were pontificating another photographer came over to me and we chatted a bit. Later he grabbed a shot of me further out on the new trail and emailed it to me....shown below. That's me with my parka over a heavy 300 wgt fleece jacket over a 1/4 zip sweatshirt standing next to my new GT3541XLS tripod (with only 3 of its 4 leg sections extended) with the Wimberley Sidekick gimbal head and wearing a Lowepro Slingshot 200 pack (green things are velcro strapped kneepads!).

Canon 5D, 16-35mm @ 16
ISO250, f18, 1/50 sec fill flash

6. Looking from the new inner dike/elevated trail (prevents the river or saltwater from flooding the buildings) out across the former farmlands about 0.8 miles to where the old dike was, another 1/2 mile to the open water, and 3+ miles to Anderson Island. Purposely the ceremony coincided with a high tide so that the water would be where it until recently hadn't been for over 100 years. This will make great habitat for salmon restoration and other ecosystems.

Canon 20D, 100-400mm @ 100
ISO400, f11, 1/100 sec, polarizer
tripod, Sidekick

Your comments and critique are always appreciated.

[Dustcloth]

Great pictures and coverage Russ! Tack sharp!

-Jim

[mrchile]

Nice PJ piece Russ. Isn't that lust like a pol?
I love your knee pad idea. i'm always walking around with a muddy knee or 2, and sometimes my butt?

[Fotolopithecus]

Interesting series of shots Russ, with your usual great color. Those are the kind of skies I live for, but rarely see.pith

[ambersmom]

Very much enjoyed the pictures. Your reporting really enhanced your post. Thanks!

Eva

[Russ]

Jim, John, Bruce, and Eva,
Thanks for your comments. The cosmic thing about this event was the unchoreographed participation by wildlife. As noted in the video news clip, an eagle soared directly overhead early in the ceremony during the Nisqually chant. Later a flock of geese swept immediately behind the speaker (videographer's wide angle made it look further away then it actually was. I was somwhat behind the reporter who visibly was mouthing "wow" as it unfolded and captured by his cameraman.

[anjin_nav]

Well, my favorites are 5 and 6, Russ. I like the layers you got in #6. Thanks for sharing something for which you've obviously got passion.

[suci]

Enjoyed both your photos, report and the video. You have a well satisfied smile on your face. Glad to see you in full PNW clothing. We had cold days too, but not for long.