Snake River spring chinook forecast grim
LEWISTON, Idaho -- A vital food source the struggling southern resident orcas depend on is predicted to be in short supply.An early forecast by fisheries managers in Idaho suggests a poor outlook for the upcoming chinook salmon season there.A group of federal, state and tribal fisheries managers is predicting that just over 48,000 spring chinook are expected to return to the mouth of the Snake River.
Non-federal employees plan to study health of sick orcas as shutdown continues
ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. -- A group of scientists not employed by the federal government is coming together to make sure the shutdown doesn't impact one of the state's most vulnerable species.Marine biologists, veterinarians and southern resident orca experts will assess the health conditions of J17 and K25 in the coming days.
The orca recovery plans that could become state law
OLYMPIA -- After a year of task force meetings, it’s time to find out if the governor’s ambitious plans to save the endangered southern resident orcas will turn into state law.It’s in the hands of state lawmakers now as they introduced several bills in Olympia Wednesday.The legislation is based on several of the governor's orca task force recommendations.
Scientists ID pink salmon as another possible threat to orcas
SEATTLE — Over the years, scientists have identified dams, pollution and vessel noise as causes of the troubling decline of the Pacific Northwest's resident killer whales.
Government shutdown blocks emergency response for struggling orcas
SEATTLE -- The government shutdown could be keeping our critically endangered southern resident orcas from getting the help they need.Various groups took notice when prominent whale researcher Ken Balcomb announced at the turn of the new year that two of the whales, J17 and K25, were struggling and would likely be dead by summer.But when the Lummi Nation reached out to the federal government Wednesday to orchestrate an emergency response, the email bounced back because NOAA Fisheries employees are furloughed.The letter, signed by Lummi Nation secretary Lawrence Solomon, said, "We must act now if we are to save two of our ailing relatives in the Southern Resident Killer Whale population."Solomon wrote to NOAA Fisheries Kristin Wilkinson that the news of struggling J17 and K25 came at a challenging time because, "the current federal government shutdown has halted an urgently needed response to this situation."Organizations outside of the federal government can only work with the whales under federal permits.
New southern resident orca born, giving hope to critically endangered species
A new southern resident killer whale was spotted alongside its mother Friday, becoming the first calf born to the critically endangered species and seen alive since 2015.
Individual treatment for ailing orcas? Veterinarians work on medical database
SAN JUAN ISLANDS, Wash. -- The world watched over the summer as a three-year-old orca calf wasted away.
2 more Puget Sound orcas predicted to die by summer
The region's expert on the demographics of the critically endangered southern residents says two more orcas are ailing and probably will be dead by summer.
Landmark deal between BPA, states and tribes could mean better salmon survival rates
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Federal, state and tribal groups have agreed to a landmark deal allowing for flexible water spillover on Columbia River and Snake River dams, a compromise partners hope will save salmon and manage costs.The deal calls for increased spillover at dams for certain times of the day and year.
Elwha dam removals: A river restored?
ELWHA RIVER, Wash. -- Four years after the largest dam removal project in history, the group in charge of restoring the Elwha shoreline is ready to open it up to the public.On Saturday, Coastal Watershed Institute is inviting the public to see firsthand the Elwha's progress as a free-flowing river.
Orca task force member: We don't have resources, capacity to do everything
The governor's orca task force has put forward 36 recommended actions to save southern residents from extinction, but at least one task force member and state senator is warning the state probably can't do them all.
Agencies compete for state dollars to save southern resident orcas
RENTON, Wash. -- We now have the orca task force’s plan to save our southern residents from extinction but what we don’t yet know is how much the recommendations would cost.The fight over state dollars has already started, with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources asking for $90 million in the next two years for aquatic habitat restoration.Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz said the orca deaths this summer have sent a message that more needs to be done to prevent extinction."This was the wake up call and it said time is running out," Franz said.She said the time is now to double down on restoring and protecting salmon habitat."We’ve done a lot of restoration protection throughout many areas, but I don’t think we’ve done it at the aggressive and significant scale that we need to," she said.That scale is spelled out in her latest budget proposal to the state legislature.In the last biennium, DNR requested $55 million for aquatic restoration.This biennium, they’re asking for $90 million, a 62 percent jump.The significant ask signals the beginning of a competition for state dollars to help the orca, and the looming decisions for the legislature on which agencies and nonprofits will best achieve the dozens of recommendations put forward by the governor’s orca task force."We’re saying that our agency is committed and ready to step up and we’re ready to deliver on our responsibilities at a heightened level so that we can protect those salmon and the orcas," Franz said.She’s met media on Bird Island at Gene Coulon Park in Renton to show what DNR's restoration dollars can do.
Orca task force finalizes plan to save endangered southern resident killer whales
The state's southern resident killer whale task force handed its plan to save the endangered animals to the governor Friday.
'Stressed and depressed' orca researchers reflect on deadly summer
SAN JUAN ISLANDS, Wash. -- The year 2018 started with hope that help was on the way for the critically-endangered southern resident orcas.In March, Gov.
Orca task force to recommend moratorium on southern resident killer whale watching
PUYALLUP, Wash. -- The governor's orca task force will likely recommend a moratorium on whale watching the endangered Southern resident orca in the Puget Sound.The group voted on an action Tuesday that would "suspend viewing" of the endangered southern resident for three to five years.The action would prohibit all vessels in the Puget Sound from "watching" the marine mammals.
How Snake River dam debate could affect your power bill
The future of four dams on the lower Snake River in Eastern Washington is still undecided after the latest draft from the governor's orca task force revealed members have yet to reach a consensus.
Trump speeds up environmental review of Columbia River system and its effects on salmon
SEATTLE -- President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the government to speed up environmental reviews and streamline regulations that he says are hindering work on major water projects in the Western United States.The signed memorandum affects the timeline of a court-mandated review of the environmental impacts of the Federal Columbia River Power System.The Columbia and Snake rivers are home to 13 species of fish listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Calls to breach Snake River dams to save Northwest orcas grow louder
Calls to breach four hydroelectric dams in Washington state have grown louder in recent months as the plight of critically endangered Northwest orcas has captured global attention.
Snake River dams drive wedge between farmers and orca champions
Despite many improvements, the four dams along the lower Snake River in Eastern Washington still threaten the survival of endangered salmon that the critically endangered orcas eat.