Almost 20 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, Dr. Riki Ott is still trying to explain to the world exactly what happened in her adopted hometown.
Scientist and fisherwoman Dr. Ott will read from her new book, Not One Drop: Betrayal and Courage in the Wake of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, at Elliott Bay Book Company on Monday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 PM.
Her firsthand account of the spill is unique because she tells the story from several viewpoints: a rookie “fisherma’am,” a highly educated scientist, and an active citizen working to protect her community.
Ott details her introduction into commercial salmon fishing in 1985 after receiving her master’s and doctorate studying marine pollution. She fell in love with the community of Cordova, Alaska and bought her own fishing boat.
Her academic expertise, coupled with her fishing experience, made her a perfect candidate for the political realm. She soon began working against the practically unregulated oil industry, tackling issues such as spill prevention and air and water pollution. This put her on the front lines when the Exxon Valdez spilled approximately 10 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989.
Ott describes the way oil companies were able the defeat or work around legislation meant to safeguard people and nature from disasters like Exxon Valdez. She tells a story that only she can tell, giving insight into the struggles of the community, the fishing industry, and the ecosystem itself.
This event is free. It is co-sponsored by People For Puget Sound, a non-profit organization working for a clean and healthy Sound through education, policy and action. Elliott Bay Book Company is located at 101 S. Main St. in Seattle. For more information, please contact Jamie Wine at (206) 382-7707.

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