On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Phil Peterson, a small business owner and senior scientist at West Fork Environmental, took center stage at the Olympic Natural Resources Center (ONRC) for a discussion about his company’s environmental research and monitoring activities across the region.
West Fork Environmental, a veteran-owned business founded in 2004 and based in Tumwater, specializes in natural resource consulting, primarily serving the Pacific Northwest. Peterson, with more than 40 years of experience in the industry—including working in Forks from 1976-1985—offered attendees an overview of the key projects his company is involved in and the ongoing challenges they face.
West Fork Environmental currently employs 12 individuals and conducts projects in Washington, Oregon, and California. Peterson stated that he does struggle to find qualified employees, but currently has a great crew.
Peterson highlighted some of their notable work on the West End, including smolt trapping in the Bogachiel, Dickey, and Clearwater Rivers in collaboration with the Quileute and Quinault tribes. His team also conducts forest inventory plots, studies forested wetlands for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and performs LiDAR and multispectral imaging for the ONRC. Their activities help with stream typing, habitat characterization, and mapping for the Quinault and Makah tribes, as well as culvert assessments for the Quinault tribe.
“RFID technology plays a key role in our fish studies,” said Peterson, explaining how his team uses radio frequency identification to mark, capture, and recapture small fish. The data gathered from these projects provides vital information for pre-season planning and fish population estimates.
Another major focus of Peterson’s talk was his company’s forest research. West Fork Environmental studies riparian zones and conducts forest inventories for the DNR. They also assess the ecological value of log jams and pools, which are critical for maintaining healthy stream environments. “Having wood in streams is essential,” Peterson noted, underscoring the significance of natural habitats in forest management.
Peterson discussed a large-scale project along the Columbia River, where his team uses a pontoon device with metal frameworks to study fish populations. He mentioned the ongoing investment in fish habitat and culvert replacement, with approximately $7.8 billion allocated for fish and infrastructure improvements across the region.
Peterson shared that West Fork Environmental recently made an investment in the community of Forks with the purchase of the Forks Forum building, which is being renovated and transformed into the “Forks Outpost,” a local office to expand their presence in the West End. The Forks Forum will be staying on as a tenant.
The next Evening Talk is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. The topic will be “Where’s Waldo Western Redcedar Edtion; Locating Cedar using UAV LiDar and Multispectral Imagery. The ongoing series continues to highlight the intersection of science, business, and the environment on the Olympic Peninsula.
