Seattle summit on Snake River Dams affect on orcas

Submitted by DamSense

The Southern resident killer whales are the iconic species of the Pacific Northwest and have been interconnected with local people for thousands of years, but their survival is now in peril. Their main source of food, Chinook salmon, has declined so much that the orcas are literally starving to death.

Come for an evening with the world’s leading experts on the economy, policy and ecosystems that make up the Snake River Friday, Sept. 7 at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture 11413 Northeast 45th St., Seattle Washington, 98015. Doors open at 6 p.m., the program starts at 7 p.m. This panel of experts will hold a frank and open discussion regarding the four lower Snake River dams, how they affect salmon recovery and the real story of the endangered orcas’ downward spiral toward extinction.

Speaker at the summit will include Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribe; Jessy Nightwalker of the Palouse Tribe; London Fletcher of the Blue Advocates; Rene Erickson of Sea Creatures Restaurants; Howard Garrett of the Orca Network; Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research; and Jim Waddell of the group DamSense.org.

In attendance will be industry executives, local, state and federal government officials, restaurant owners, scientists, orca task force members and concerned members of the public.

Due to room capacity of 300 people, contact DamSense in advance by calling Tyson Minck at 360-927-2666 or e-mailing tyson@damsense.org.