Page 8 - A River's Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn

Year after year, the mighty Elwha churned with salmon
thrashing against the current,
leaping up waterfalls.
The rushing river called them home from the sea.

Bears, otters, and eagles caught some of them.
The rest laid eggs in shallow riffles before dying.
Their bodies enriched the soil that grew the forest
that fed the mice, the deer, and the elk.

In spring, millions of salmon eggs hatched.
The young fish preyed on tiny insects in the river,
and grew and grew, until the time came to swim for the sea.
On their journey, some became meals for other fish and birds.

The river fed the salmon, and the salmon fed the river.