Slide background

Protecting Orca by Restoring Salmon

Restoring Columbia Basin salmon is a key to orca survival

The tremendous salmon recovery potential in the Snake and Columbia Rivers and their tributaries makes this basin a top priority for rebuilding the Chinook salmon populations our endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales need to survive and recover.

With just 73 whales remaining in the wild, the Northwest’s Southern Resident Killer Whales are among our nation’s most endangered species. The leading cause of decline: lack of sufficient prey resources – Chinook salmon. With its historic productivity, low human population, and remaining pockets of large, high, pristine and well protected habitat, the Columbia and Snake River Basin represents our nation’s best opportunity to restore the large numbers of Chinook salmon that endangered, hungry orcas need to survive and recover.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT

 

Protecting Orca by Restoring Salmon Articles

January 16, 2024

Seattle Times: Newborn southern resident orca spotted in Puget Sound

in News
Researchers spotted a new calf with J pod this week. (Courtesy of Maya Sears / NMFS Permit 27052) Dec. 27, 2023By Isabella Breda The J pod of endangered southern resident orcas has a new baby. Researchers Maya and Mark Sears spotted a new calf with J pod on… Read More
January 16, 2024

KUOW: 'They're our relatives.' Samish Indian Nation prepares to welcome new…

in News
A newborn orca surfaces next to orca J40 in central Puget Sound on Dec. 26, 2023 Photo by Maya Sears under NMFS Permit 27052 By Gustavo Sagrero ÁlvarezJanuary 03, 2024 Since the recent birth of a southern resident orca calf, Coast Salish tribes have begun… Read More
April 03, 2023

Lewiston Tribune: Anti-dam overtakes listening session

in News
Supporters say they didn’t have a fair chance to participate in discussion on Snake River dams and salmon recovery By Eric Barker Of the Tribune Apr 1, 2023 A U.S. government listening session Friday was dominated by speakers in favor of breaching the four… Read More
March 31, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Public calls on White House for plan to replace Snake…

in Press Releases
For Immediate Release—March 31, 2023 Public calls on White House for plan to replace Snake River dams SEATTLE—Today, fishermen, energy experts, rural businesses and families, salmon and orca advocates, and youth leaders all called on the federal government to… Read More
March 27, 2023

"Now is our chance to stop salmon extinction" - Full-page Seattle Times ad…

in SOS Blog
On Sunday, March 26, Save Our wild Salmon Coalition were joined by more than 50 allied NGO partners on this full-page, full-color ad in the Seattle Times. Coming at a critical time, this ad raises the profile of the collective and urgent work by salmon, orca,… Read More
September 08, 2022

Hot Water Report 2022 - September 8 Issue 10.

in SOS Blog
I. INTRODUCTION Welcome to Save Our wild Salmon’s Hot Water Report 2022. During the summer, this weekly report provides an update on real-time water temperatures in the lower Snake and Columbia River reservoirs via graphs and analyses, a summary on the… Read More
April 05, 2022

The News Tribune: Activists rally in Tacoma for Northwest salmon — next event…

in News
By News Tribune StaffMarch 27, 2022 Activists rallied Saturday in Tacoma on behalf of Northwest salmon runs, calling for removal of four dams on the lower Snake River, and seeking attention from state and federal elected officials. The “Stop Salmon Extinction… Read More
March 09, 2022

KIRO 7: Activists create human mural to support saving orcas, salmon

in News
By KIRO 7 News StaffMarch 4, 2022 SEATTLE — A human mural of an orca whale was created by activists for World Wildlife Day on Thursday. About 100 people carrying black umbrellas gathered on the lawn of Victor Steinbrueck Park in Seattle to create a mosaic in… Read More

Aug 23, 2021 - The Seattle Times: Skinny orcas are up to 3 times more likely to die than healthy whales, new research shows

Jul 20, 2021 - Atmos Magazine: The Frontline - To Our Relatives in the Water

May 24, 2021 - Wild Salmon & Steelhead News (May 2021)

May 14, 2021 - Seattle Times: Gov. Inslee, Washington state’s U.S. senators reject GOP congressman’s pitch on Lower Snake River dam removal

May 14, 2021 - Joint press statement from Senator Murray and Governor Inslee (May 14)

Apr 19, 2021 - Newspaper ads highlight the urgent plight of orcas (April 2021)

Apr 13, 2021 - Wild Salmon & Steelhead News (April 2021)

Mar 8, 2021 - AP: Study: Chinook salmon are key to orcas all year

Feb 22, 2021 - Seattle Times: New orca baby born to southern resident L pod

Oct 12, 2020 - NPR: 2 newborn orcas spotted in Puget Sound in the same month

Sep 28, 2020 - Tacoma New Tribune: Removing dams on Puyallup and Snake rivers is key to salmon and orca survival

Sep 25, 2020 - Seattle Times: Another new orca baby born to J pod — the second this month

Sep 24, 2020 - Crosscut: Opinion - We lose more than salmon and orcas to the Snake River dams

Sep 18, 2020 - The New York Times: Orca That Carried Dead Calf for 17 Days Gives Birth Again

Sep 18, 2020 - Seattle Times: Orca Tahlequah is a mother again

Apr 30, 2020 - GiveBIG 2020 - May 5th and 6th. Please help sustain our work at this critical time

Mar 31, 2020 - Press Release: Washington State, Oregon Lawmakers Press Trump Administration to Extend Columbia River System Environmental Impact Statement Comment Period

Mar 29, 2020 - Wild Salmon & Steelhead News (March-April 2020)

Mar 1, 2020 - Lewiston Morning Tribune: Feds - Snake River dams should stay

Feb 28, 2020 - Oregonian Opinion: Oregon’s orcas, too

Feb 21, 2020 - CBB: Oregon Governor Expresses Support For Lower Snake Dam Removal; Must Mitigate ‘Potential Harm To Vital Sectors’

Dec 23, 2019 - Get Involved! Washington State's 'Lower Snake River Stakeholder Process' - A Resource Page

Nov 22, 2019 - Idaho Statesman: 2 Idaho rivers remain open for steelhead fishing. Guides say closure causes confusion

Nov 21, 2019 - Idaho Statesman: Removing lower Snake River dams is best chance for salmon, steelhead recovery

Nov 17, 2019 - Seattle Times: New drone, underwater footage of orcas stuns researchers, gives intimate look at killer whales’ family life

Oct 30, 2019 - Wild Salmon & Steelhead News - October/November 2019

Oct 14, 2019 - Seattle Times: Yakama, Lummi tribal leaders call for removal of three lower Columbia River dams

Oct 14, 2019 - Inlander: Washington tribes call for removal of Columbia River dams, reject doctrine of Christian discovery

Oct 4, 2019 - Island Weekly: OPALCO’s dam decision is concerning

Sep 30, 2019 - You're Invited: 'Dammed to Extinction'

Sep 30, 2019 - Seattle Times: Chasing a memory - In California, orcas and salmon have become so scarce people have forgotten what once was. Will the Northwest be next?

Sep 19, 2019 - CBB: NOAA Fisheries proposes expanding critical habitat for killer whales from Washington to California; New details on eating Columbia River fish

Sep 19, 2019 - Seattle Times: Feds seek expanded habitat protection as salmon, orcas battle climate  change, habitat degradation

Sep 18, 2019 - Lewiston Morning Tribune: Idaho to consider closing steelhead fishing on Clearwater/Snake rivers

Sep 16, 2019 - NY Times: How Long Before These Salmon Are Gone? ‘Maybe 20 Years’

Sep 10, 2019 - Chinook Observer: Editorial - Only smart, honest policies stand in the way of extinction

Sep 4, 2019 - Daily Kos: Endangered orcas' fate is tied to a series of dams 400 miles inland

Sep 4, 2019 - Daily Kos: The politics of starving orcas - Why human folly is killing off an endangered population

Aug 26, 2019 - Action Alert - Contact these Northwest leaders today - "Salmon, orca and communities need leadership today!"

Aug 15, 2019 - Seattle Times: Both orca babies are alive, and all 3 southern resident pods have been spotted in Canadian waters

Aug 13, 2019 - Crosscut: A new film argues Lower Snake dams make life worse for salmon, orcas and everyone in the PNW

Aug 7, 2019 - Seattle Times: Three southern resident orcas missing, presumed dead

Aug 7, 2019 - KUOW: Orca population drops as 3 more killer whales presumed dead

Aug 7, 2019 - Seattle Times: Where are the salmon and the orcas? Tribe, scientists grapple with unprecedented disappearance in Washington waters  

Jul 31, 2019 - Gazette-Tribune: In support of salmon recovery, Ecology seeks feedback on proposed rule changes

Jul 31, 2019 - Lewiston Morning Tribune: Study, Breaching dams would pay off

Jul 26, 2019 - Wild Salmon & Steelhead News - July 2019

Jul 16, 2019 - Seattle Times: Mother orca Tahlequah and her dead calf, one year later. How did she change the conversation?

Jul 15, 2019 - KOMO News: Two southern resident orcas are missing, feared dead

Jul 14, 2019 - Seattle Times: The great salmon mystery, Scientists go to unprecedented lengths to find out where chinook go

Jul 11, 2019 - Crosscut: Flush with cash, WA should invest in orcas now

Jun 11, 2019 - Union Bulletin: With or without dams, we are in this together

Jun 4, 2019 - Mountain Journal: Collapse of Salmon And Steelhead A Dam Shame

May 20, 2019 - Q13 Fox: Endangered orca J17’s health in dramatic decline

May 14, 2019 - Seattle Times: Canada’s new protections for orcas go a little further than new legislation in Washington state    

May 5, 2019 - GiveBIG 2019 is on Wednesday, May 8 - make your pledge today!

Apr 22, 2019 - Crosscut: Will limits on fishing free up salmon for starving orcas?

Apr 22, 2019 - Seattle Times: Gov. Jay Inslee’s orca-recovery agenda advancing, but billion-dollar funding yet to be seen

Apr 17, 2019 - Chinook Observer Editorial: Orcas should be allies not enemies in salmon efforts

Apr 9, 2019 - Seattle Times: Groups sue to restrict salmon fishing, help Northwest orcas

Apr 9, 2019 - Crosscut: WA lawmakers pass on whale-watching ban aimed at helping orcas

Mar 18, 2019 - Everett Herald Editorial: What look at Snake dams can mean for orcas and us

Mar 15, 2019 - CBB: More Salmon/Steelhead To Columbia River Than Last Year, But Forecasts Mixed Among Species 

Mar 15, 2019 - CBB: Salmon Fishing Rules Off NW Coast To Be Guided By Need To Protect Low Numbers Of Chinook 

Mar 15, 2019 - CBB: Ocean Conditions Appear To Be Heading In Right Direction For Improving Salmon-Steelhead Runs 

Mar 13, 2019 - InvestigateWest: Legislature, Inslee Struggle to Fix Roads that Block Salmon, Help Starving Orca

Mar 8, 2019 - Seattle Times: Feds could restrict Pacific Ocean fishing over endangered orcas, NOAA letter says

Feb 24, 2019 - Seattle Times: Hunger, the Decline of Salmon Adds to the Struggle of Puget Sound’s Orca

Feb 22, 2019 - CBB: Very Low Spring Chinook Forecasted Return Prompts Limits on Recreational Fishing 

Feb 22, 2019 - CBB: NW Power/Conservation Council Hears Details On Flexible Spill Agreement To Aid Juvenile Salmonids 

Feb 22, 2019 - Q13 Fox: To help salmon migrate, state looks to spill more over dams

Feb 13, 2019 - The Spokesman-Review: Diverse group of outdoor enthusiasts urges Legislature to fully fund the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Feb 1, 2019 - Seattle Times: Washington state to regulate federal dams on Columbia, Snake to cool hot water, aid salmon

Feb 1, 2019 - Seattle PI: 'Fish flush' could be part of orca and salmon recovery

Feb 1, 2019 - OPB: To Help Orcas Catch More Salmon, Washington Plans To Increase Spill At Dams

Jan 30, 2019 - The Spokesman Review: Salmon and orcas linked, Legislature told

Jan 30, 2019 - Outside Magazine: Washington's Bold Plan to Save Its Orcas

Jan 30, 2019 - National Wildlife Federation Blog - Can We All Agree? A Baby Orca Needs to Eat

Jan 25, 2019 - Lewiston Morning Tribune: Dam issues reach both sides of the river

Jan 23, 2019 - CTV News: Scientists suggest new threat to endangered B.C. orcas: pink salmon

Jan 3, 2019 - Seattle Times: 2 more Puget Sound orcas predicted to die in critically endangered population

Dec 23, 2018 - Save Our wild Salmon's 2018 year-in-review - and look ahead!

Dec 23, 2018 - Spokesman-Review Guest Opinion: Time for BPA to act on dams

Dec 23, 2018 - Yakima-Herald Saturday soapbox: To help the orcas, and improve salmon runs, remove the dams

Dec 20, 2018 - Tri-City Herald:  Opponents call new dam agreement to help salmon ‘worse than useless’

Dec 20, 2018 - Lewiston Tribune: Salmon deal to add more spillage at region’s dams. Oregon, Washington and Nez Perce Tribe reach agreement over fish passage operations

Dec 20, 2018 - Seattle Times: Changes to dams on Columbia, Snake rivers to benefit salmon, hydropower and orcas

Dec 20, 2018 - OPB: Dam Agreement Aims To Help More Salmon Survive Columbia River Journey

Dec 20, 2018 - Tri-City Herald: If Snake River dams are breached, what would happen? We must get our message out

Dec 14, 2018 - Spokesman-Review: Inslee task force would study possible dam breaching to help salmon, orcas

Share This