Hoh Watershed Salmon and trout of Olympic National Park play a vital role in feeding the forest.
Many salmon feed in the ocean for over four years then return to spawn in Olympic's forested rivers.
After they spawn and die, many are eaten by forest animals and scavengers. Some are dragged into the forest and decompose on the forest floor. These fish carry the nutrients of the sea into the forests. They have done so for ages and do so today, but at far fewer numbers. By sampling the chemical composition of the annual rings in ancient rainforest trees, scientists are discovering that a portion of a salmon's nutrients remain in the yearly rings.