People For Puget Sound

03/19/2025

On behalf of the orcas, artists, and the community, we invite you to attend For the Love of Orcas: An evening of art, poetry and prose on the evening of Wednesday, March 26 at Traditions, Olympia. Guests will enjoy murals and paintings, listen to poetry and spoken word, and help orca recovery efforts.

This is a free event and is likely to sell out! Please RSVP to reserve your spot: https://saveourwildsalmon.salsalabs.org/fortheloveoforcas/index.html

01/15/2025

Washington State has launched a public survey to gather information for the Lower Snake River Recreation Study, which will be open until January 19. This is a crucial opportunity for you to imagine and share your vision for outdoor recreation along a restored, free-flowing Snake River with decision-makers.

This survey isn’t just for current river users —it’s about future possibilities. We need to show Washington decision-makers that a free-flowing Snake River is an incredible economic opportunity for local communities and businesses, given the high demand for rafting/boating, fishing, hiking, camping, and other experiences regionally and nationally.

Take the survey now: snakeriverrecreation.com

12/04/2024

You're invited! "Welcome the Orcas 2024" is a community event to celebrate the seasonal return of the southern residents to central Puget Sound. The event will feature presentations from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Enforcement about new distance regulations to protect the southern residents, and updates from local researchers about recent encounters with the orcas.

The event will also feature light refreshments and information tables from organizations including Seal Sitters and Washington Conservation Action.

Join us to celebrate the whales and get the holiday season off to a good start!

11/19/2024

Tribute to the Orca is out now! Watch here: https://vimeo.com/1026658303

Earlier this year during Orca Action Month, Se’Si’Le, an Indigenous-led nonprofit organization based in the Bellingham area collaborated with Salish Sea and Northern Straits Native Nations and NGOs to host an Indigenous-centered event in June at the Seattle Aquarium.

We’re excited to share this moving short film highlighting this event and additional interviews. Tribute to the Orca shares Indigenous communities' ancient kinship with orcas and salmon, and the importance of reciprocity in our relationship with our caretaker: Mother Nature. You’ll hear powerful Indigenous voices delivering somber and urgent narratives and learn about the Southern Resident orcas whose survival, like the survival of Indigenous lifeways here in the Pacific Northwest, depends on scha’enexw (the Salmon People).

Se’Si’Le, an Indigenous-led nonprofit organization based in Washington State, collaborated with Salish Sea and Northern Straits Native Nations and NGOs…

11/13/2024

Save the Date! On November 19, join us for the premiere of Tribute to the Orca, a moving short film capturing the essence of an Indigenous-centered event that took place during Orca Action Month (June 2024) at the Seattle Aquarium. The short film was produced by Se’Si’Le, an Indigenous-led nonprofit organization based in Bellingham who collaborated with Salish Sea and Northern Straits Native Nations and NGOs to host the event.

Tribute to the Orca highlights Indigenous communities' ancient kinship with orcas and salmon, and the importance of reciprocity in our relationship our caretaker: Mother Nature. You’ll hear powerful Indigenous voices delivering somber and urgent narratives and learn about the Southern Resident orcas whose survival, like the survival of Indigenous lifeways here in the Pacific Northwest, depends on scha’enexw (the Salmon People).

10/24/2024

09/27/2024

Did you know that sound is as important to orcas as all of our senses combined?

The noise from ships impacts marine life beyond simple annoyance, contributing to the extinction of an iconic resident of the Pacific Northwest. Read more about it here:

Humans don’t notice it, but the whales hear it loud and clear.

08/28/2024

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is rushing a major decision to join a new energy market in the West that could negatively impact our Northwest energy landscape, critically endangered salmon and steelhead, and undermine our nation’s treaties and commitments to Northwest Tribes made more than 150 years ago. 🐟
💡 Choosing the right energy market is critical to meet the Pacific Northwest’s projected energy needs while keeping rates low and preparing for a more reliable and resilient energy future that includes abundant salmon and steelhead.
Unfortunately, BPA is hurtling toward the wrong market choice, which would limit our ability to transition to renewable energy and put at risk our economy, environment and Northwest way of life.
Now more than ever, smart energy choices will define the future. ⚡️🌎
BPA needs to get it right.
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP: Send a letter of thanks to Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell (WA), and Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (OR) for their recent letter to Administrator John Hairston, urging BPA to slow down and make a thoughtful decision about which market to join AND send a message urging BPA to pause its decision!

07/11/2024

“Boaters have a unique opportunity to play a role in the southern residents’ recovery, simply by avoiding them while at sea and making it easier for the whales to find and catch their prey,” said Washington Conservation Action's Puget Sound Campaign Senior Manager, Rein Attemann.

Last year, the 2023 WA Legislature passed a law requiring recreational boaters in Washington to stay 1,000 yards back from the fish-eating southern residents. This law remains critical in maintaining and restoring the health of salmon runs and whales. Researchers predict that the population will go extinct without significant changes — such as increasing their food supply and enhancing their hunting success.

Make sure to stay 1,000 yards back when you're on a boat!

Endangered species k C E Recreational boaters play an important role in protecting endangered killer whales, officials say By Christopher DunaganPublished June 26, 2024 No Comments Noise and disturbance from boats can disrupt the normal hunting behaviors of killer whales, according to marine mammal....

07/09/2024

Last week, the White House released the Tribal Circumstances Analysis, which addresses the many disparities and inequities placed on Tribal Nations in the Columbia Basin by implementation of dams throughout the region.

We would like to commend the Department of Interior for the completion of this critical report in such a timely fashion. The Columbia/Snake River Coalition supports the comments and sentiments of the Columbia Basin Tribes.

Please join us in showing your support for the Columbia Basin Tribes!

Nez Perce Tribe press release: https://bit.ly/NPTribalCircumstancesAnalysis
White House press release https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-releases-report-highlighting-historic-and-ongoing

As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s unprecedented agreement to restore wild salmon in the Columbia River Basin, the Department of the Interior today released a report documenting the historic, ongoing and cumulative impacts of federal Columbia River dams on Columbia River Basin Tribes.

06/11/2024

For decades, the US Army Corp of Engineers used Bradford Island, part of the Bonneville dam complex, as a toxic dumping ground.

Because of this, resident fish in that area have the highest cancer-causing PCB contamination levels in the United States, making them too toxic to eat.

ACT NOW: Sign the petition to support the immediate and thorough cleanup of the Bradford Island Superfund Site: https://www.columbiariverkeeper.org/take-action/bradford-island