A 40-foot Sitka spruce known as the Tree of Life at Olympic National Park has dropped five feet lower this winter. Storm damage has left this remarkable tree hanging over an eroding cliff at Kalaloch Beach. Recent erosion affects the tree from two sides. Ocean waves pound it from the front while creek water erodes its base from behind. This combination has widened the cave beneath the tree’s root system. The tree’s troubles began in the 1960s. Park officials built a culvert to bring water to a nearby campground. This seemingly helpful project backfired. The culvert channeled water toward the … Continue reading Erosion Causes Olympic National Park’s ‘Tree of Life’ to Drop 5 Feet, Threatening Its Survival