On Thursday, October 16, at 7 p.m., Jimmy Futty from San Diego State University and UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography will present “From Forests to Seafloor: Washington’s Hidden Landscapes Beneath the Waves.”

When we picture Washington’s landscapes, we think of forests, rivers, and mountains—but the story continues beneath the ocean. Offshore, a hidden world of canyons, ridges, and valleys reveals how glaciers, rivers, earthquakes, and rising seas have shaped our coast. Jimmy will explore these submerged features, from submarine canyons that support marine life to drowned Ice Age river valleys and scars left by ancient earthquakes and tsunamis, including the Cascadia event of 1700.

Using sonar and seismic mapping, he will show how today’s technology uncovers the seafloor in remarkable detail, connecting geology, ecology, fisheries, climate, and cultural heritage. Washington’s offshore is a living system that influences fisheries, coastal resilience, and history—and understanding it takes collaboration among scientists, foresters, and tribal knowledge holders.

Jimmy Futty is a doctoral student in geophysics at SDSU and Scripps. A former U.S. Navy aerographer’s mate, he gained hands-on experience in oceanography and sonar mapping before earning geology degrees at SDSU. His current research focuses on the geomorphology of Washington’s continental shelf and related offshore regions in California.

Join the talk in person at the ONRC Hemlock Forest Room, 1455 S. Forks Ave, Forks, or via Zoom: https://washington.zoom.us/j/3834334539

A recording will later be available on the ONRC website.

The ONRC Rosmond Evening Talks are funded by the Rosmond Family Education Fund, honoring Fred Rosmond and his family’s contributions to forestry and the Forks community.

Stay tuned for announcements about two more talks this fall!