It’s the bottom of the ninth inning, and there are no outs left for the southern resident orcas and chinook salmon. Ken Balcomb, founding director of the Center for Whale Research, and Deborah Giles, research director for the nonprofit Wild Orca and research scientist for the University of Washington, have issued a warning: act now, or it will be too late for these species.
On Oct. 22, Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee committed to releasing an assessment on removing the lower Snake River dams by July 2022. These dams block the southern resident orcas’ food source, the chinook salmon. But we need action now. Congress needs time to pass necessary legislation and appropriations needed to implement it. And a plan without implementation is nothing.
Step up to the plate and ask Sen. Murray (202-224-2621 or https://bit.ly/3mUHoDe) and Gov. Inslee (360-902-4111 or https://www.governor.wa.gov/contact) to protect our priceless orcas and salmon by acting more quickly to remove the lower Snake River dams.