Environment Washington launches Save the Orcas campaign

Just 75 Southern Resident orcas remain on Earth, and scientists warn their numbers will continue to dwindle without intervention.

Dams on the Lower Snake and Columbia rivers block Chinook salmon, the orcas’ main food source, from spawning and returning to the sea, and orcas are starving as a result. On June 16, Environment Washington kicked off its campaign to save them. This summer, staff will mobilize Washingtonians across the state to call on their lawmakers to breach the dams, restore Chinook salmon populations and save the orcas.

“Restoring the lower Snake River is our very best salmon restoration opportunity anywhere on the West Coast,” said Environment Washington Acting Director Pam Clough.

“Washington’s leaders care deeply about the fate of our salmon and orca populations, and we’ve launched this grassroots campaign to empower Gov. Jay Inslee and Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell to take swift and bold action for orca and salmon recovery throughout the Northwest.”

Read more about the campaign launch.

Learn more about the campaign.