FOY is please to partner with the Bud Werner Memorial Library to present a free film in honor of the 35th Annual Yampa River Festival which takes place May 29-31, 2015 in Steamboat Spring.

A film about the largest dam removal project in the history of the United States, and the extraordinary effort to restore an eco-system and set a river free.

“With its stunning photography, in-depth historical background, and deeply- imbued tribal perspective,”Return of the River” is the documentary film that lives up to the grandeur of the Elwha, its renewal, and its promise.” – Seattle Times

Return of the River follows a group of strong-minded committed people as they attempt the impossible: to change the public opinion of a town and eventually the nation to bring a dam down. The community comes to a consensus, setting the Elwha River free and showing the way to more sustainable future. Amid grim environmental news, Return of the River is a film infused with hope.

Fundamentally, the Elwha River in Washington State is a story about people and the land they inhabit. The film captures the tenacity of individuals who would not give up on a river, mirroring the tenacity of salmon headed upstream to spawn. It is a narrative with global ramifications, exploring the complex relationship between communities and the environment that sustains them.

The camera soars over mountain headwaters, dives into schools of salmon, and captures turbines grinding to a halt; as the largest dam removal project in history begins. The film features people and perspectives on all sides of the Elwha debate, reflecting the many voices of the Elwha valley.

The evening’s program will also include an update on the State of the Yampa, presented by Friends of the Yampa.

Watch the movies trailer here: