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Metropolitan King County Council
516 Third Ave., Rm. 1200
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-296-1000
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Fax: 206-296-0198

council@kingcounty.gov
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Oct. 27, 2008

Phillips: Orca deaths a wake up call

Loss barometer of ecosystem in serious decline

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Larry Phillips called the recent presumed loss of seven Puget Sound orcas a wake up call about the urgent need for salmon recovery and clean-up of Puget Sound.

“Orcas are seriously imperiled in our waters with so many deaths in their pod. This serves as a barometer telling us that Puget Sound as an ecosystem is in serious decline,” said Phillips, Chair of the Council’s Regional Water Quality Committee. “We must take action now to avoid extinction of our iconic orcas as well as Chinook salmon and other Puget Sound species.”

A primary cause contributing to the orca deaths is the decline of the Chinook salmon population, orcas’ primary source of food. Chinook salmon are threatened by pollution and loss of habitat in Puget Sound and surrounding waterways.

The Council heard from a panel of experts in the areas of Puget Sound clean-up and salmon recovery. Today’s briefing highlighted the challenges jeopardizing recovery efforts. Councilmembers were told that even before recent economic turmoil, King County’s 10-year capital improvement plan for salmon recovery was only about 25 percent funded. Panel members also spoke of the importance of working with rural landowners to maintain working, sustainable lands that are good for the economy and good for salmon. However, the very programs that are essential to assisting landowners are facing significant cuts in this budget. The budget proposes to cut these essential stewardship programs by over $1 million in 2009.

“In order to save our orcas, we must clean up Puget Sound and restore our salmon runs,” said Phillips. “We have a broadly-supported, scientifically-sound restoration plan in hand. Turning back now means we risk losing the entire Puget Sound orca population forever.”