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104 North Laurel,
Suite 104
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Phone (360) 417-1815
Fax: (360) 457-1089
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New Salmon Plaque listing at the Clallam County Courthouse

North Olympic Land Trust’s latest Clallam County Courthouse plaque is in place, and the organization is adding opportunities for additional memorials.

The plaque lists names of individuals and groups who show support for the Land Trust’s work in protecting special qualities of area lands or choose others to honor or memorialize. Each listing represents a donation of $100 or more. The next plaque will be engraved early in 2011 for installation at the Courthouse that year.

A new service is available to those designating the Land Trust for memorials or donating $500 or more as a memorial. In addition to a listing of up to 25 words on the next plaque, the organization will publish up to 5 photographs and a story of up to 1,000 words on its Web site, nolt.org. 

Donations can be made through the Land Trust’s Web site or by mailing them to the Land Trust’s office, 104 N. Laurel St., Suite 114, Port Angeles, WA 98362. Donations to the nonprofit organization are tax deductible.

The plaque tradition began in 2007 when the Land Trust gave its Elwha Return artwork to the citizens of Clallam County and County officials arranged for its display above the elevator in the Courthouse’s entry area facing Fourth Street, in Port Angeles. Plaques with donor listings are on the wall of the corridor west of the artwork. The plaque describing Elwha Return hangs below the artwork, just east of the elevator.

Local artists Clark Mundy, Al Charles Jr. and Darrell Charles Jr, both of the Elwha Klallam Tribe, donated their Elwha Return collaboration to the Land Trust in 2006 to help the organization raise funds for its work, and to celebrate partnerships among individuals and groups.

"Non-profits like the Land Trust do a great job of helping people, local governments, and businesses work together to preserve our habitat. That's inspiring, and everyone can join in," Mundy said.

Mundy, who initiated the Elwha Return project, is noted for creating hand-hammered copper fish and other art, with an emphasis on natural and cultural qualities of the area. His artwork will be exhibited at the Land Trust office during a special Second Friday Art Event reception from 4:30 to 8 p.m on June 11. His recent work also adorns the exterior and interior of the new Elwha Klallam Heritage Center at First and Peabody. Another prominent installation is on the winding staircase at the Landing Mall.

Mundy describes the Elwha Return artwork itself as a tribute to the restoration of the Elwha River salmon spawning grounds. It depicts three mature salmon and a young salmon and incorporates Coast Salish design, abalone inlay, carved western red cedar and hammered copper. He has called the Land Trust’s work a “beacon” of leadership and collaboration.

Posted August 21, 2008