#ThatDamNation Floods 23 @Patagonia Stores TODAY

DamNation floods 23 Patagonia Retail Stores across the country today, Thursday, June 5th, 2014; #ThatDamNation photo contest ends June 7.

A ragingly powerful and award-winning documentary film, Damnation explores our dam culture and examines the change in “attitude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to the growing awareness that our own future is bound to the life and health of our rivers.” The #ThatDamNation contest invites YOU to contribute to the conversation with photos of your own (scroll down for details).

“DamNation’s majestic cinematography and unexpected discoveries move through rivers and landscapes altered by dams, but also through a metamorphosis in values, from conquest of the natural world to knowing ourselves as part of nature,”states the DamNation website.

DamNation producer Matt Stoecker witnessed migrating steelhead jump at, and bounce off, Stanford University’s Searsville Dam; he recognized the destructive power of a single dam on an entire watershed and beyond. A fish biologist, Matt spearheaded the removal of more than a dozen of these barriers to migration. Actively involved in efforts to dismantle several more, he is joined by Patagonia founder/owner/fisherman Yvon Chouinard in his concern which led to a desire to capture these “dambusting” efforts on film and share them with the world.

DamNation has been on the festival circuit racking up awards including the “Audience” award at Mountain Film in Telluride. Following its release today at 23 Patagonia stores,  the film will practically flood the nation with screenings and if there isn’t one near you, then do it–host your own Damnation screening.

Ventura’s Patagonia store will have beer for sale and a raffle to support the Matilija Coalition which works to remove the Matilija Dam featured in the film. The  founder of the Matilija Coalition, Paul Jenkin, will be on hand to discuss recent progress toward a free-running Ventura River. Doors open at 7:30pm and the event is free.

Patagonia Ventura: 235 W. Santa Clara St., Ventura, CA 93001 (805) 643-6074
Bring a jacket and chairs–I heard it might be held outside…

Can’t make it to a screening or make one happen in your community? You can download it for $10 or less beginning tomorrow.

At least watch the trailer and take action against deadbeat dams at DamNationFilm.com.

There’s also a photo contest which closes June 7: post your photo of a deadbeat dam for a chance to win –be sure to use #thatdamcontest and @patagonia.. Check out the hashtag to see some contenders–they’re being aggregated by Rebel Mouse here! (Gotta love Rebel Mouse for this type of thing–except how come none of them are on twitter?!)