Dungeness River Nature Center

10/10/2026

We have twenty cute lil’ pumpkins ready to be painted after kiddos learn about the life cycle of Pumpkin Jack! 🎃 Join us at 1pm for today’s Jr Naturalist program. We’ll meet inside the Cedar Hat Classroom. Free to attend!

10/03/2026

09/30/2026

A Rainy RiverFest 2026! ☔

This year, the skies gifted us a downpour for the Dungeness River Festival 🌧 . Despite the rain, we welcome an estimated 1,000 people to celebrate the Dungeness Watershed with us!

The kids were unbothered, happily stomping through muddy puddles and waving their soggy passports as they collected stamps from booths, and our exhibitors persevered, greeting visitors with smiles despite damp conditions. Plus, the extra flow in the Dungeness River created an educational opportunity for the kids as spawning salmon make their journey upstream.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors—Wild Ones, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and Battelle, which operates Pacific Northwest National Laboratory—for making the 2026 RiverFest a reality!

And a huge thank you to our exhibitors this year! Dark Sky OP, Olympic Coast Nat'l Marine Sanctuary, WA Dept of Health Shellfish Programs, PUD No. 1 Clallam County, Clallam County Environmental Health, Feiro Marine Life Center, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, League of Women Voters, Clallam County MRC, Olympic Park Advocates, Wild Ones OP, Clallam Conservation District, City of Sequim, Clallam County Noxious W**d Control, JST Natural Resources, Olympic National Park, JST Refuge Management Program, US Forest Service ONF, WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife, OP Audubon Society, Panthera, Olympic Fungi Festival, Olympic Climate Action, Peninsula Trails Coalition, Five Acre School, North Olympic Salmon Coalition, and Backcountry Horsemen.

We are so grateful to our volunteers and community partners who bring this festival to life each year!

09/24/2026

Tomorrow is the Dungeness River Festival! The public is invited to join us for this FREE event from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

You will get to delve into the fascinating story of the Dungeness Watershed firsthand through interactive exhibits and demonstrations. Will there be rain? Likely!

Let's not forget the silver lining though... Rain is good! The Dungeness River has been hovering around mid-60s cfs for a while now, which is a critical low-flow level. This incoming moisture is desperately needed. The bump in water levels will help migrating salmon move upstream. We encourage you to walk up to the Bridge at some point to look for fish!

See you tomorrow! 🌧 🐟🌲

09/23/2026

Thank you, Doris Causey! 🐦 Over the past four seasons, Doris completed 77 Project FeederWatch bird counts and recorded 34 species at the River Center's rain garden feeders, helping scientists monitor bird populations across North America.

Read her reflection: dungenessrivercenter.org/news/project-feederwatch-thank-you-doris

Interested in becoming a FeederWatch surveyor for the River Center? Send an email to [email protected] to learn more about this rewarding citizen science opportunity.

Photos provided by Doris Causey:
1. Varied Thrush
2. Dark-eyed Junco
3. Hairy Woodpecker
4. Bushtits
5. Three different Finches
6. Eagle pair
7. Robin bathing
8. Spotted Towhee
9. California Quail
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch

09/22/2026

Last week we wrapped up our 5-week Ecology of the Dungeness course through the River Center. Participants explored from the peaks of the Olympic Mountains to the shores of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and learned from experts along the way! ⛰️🌲🌊

We had such a curious, thoughtful group, which spurred many in-depth discussions on features of the watershed and our role as residents. They now have the knowledge base to go forth and be environmental stewards within the community!

“I really enjoyed learning about the geological, biological, and environmental factors that influence the health of the watershed. It was heartening to hear from the presenters and see firsthand how dedicated they are protecting the area.”

A huge thank you to the River Center staff, the Jamestown S’Klallam Natural Resources Department, retired geology professor Ralph Dawes, retired hydrologist Ann Soule, Nate Roberts with North Olympic Salmon Coalition, the Dungeness Fish Hatchery staff, and the JST Refuge Management Program staff for supporting this series! We’re excited to bring it back after a 5ish year hiatus!

09/16/2026

Today, we celebrated 25 years of Wednesday morning bird walks! 🎉

Since 2001, dedicated OPAS and Dungeness River Nature Center volunteers have surveyed birds every Wednesday at Railroad Bridge Park. The data collected over the years is essential for monitoring local bird populations on the North Olympic Peninsula. 🪶

Join us for a bird walk! The survey meets at the River Center parking lot every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.