Southern Resident Orca Task Force
On March 14, 2018, the governor signed Executive Order 18-02 designating state agencies to take several immediate actions to benefit southern residents, and establishing a task force to develop a longer-term action recommendations for orca recovery and future sustainability. The governor invited members of the Legislature, the Government of Canada, representatives from tribal, federal, local and other state governments, the private sector and the non-profit sector to participate in the task force. The task force also includes designees from the lead state agencies, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Puget Sound Partnerships, and from multiple other state agencies.
General public comments
Please use this link to submit any general feedback or comments to the Southern Resident Orca Task Force.
Final report and recommendations
On November 16, the task force released a final comprehensive report and recommendations for recovering Southern Residents. The report details potential options to address the major threats to Southern Residents, including prey availability, toxic contaminants and disturbance from noise and vessel traffic.The governor and staff will assess each recommendation for the most impact in the short and long-term.
The task force shared the details of their final recommendations at a press conference on November 16, 2018.
The governor will roll out his budget and policy priorities in mid-December for consideration during the 2019 Legislative Session.
Draft report versions and public comments
- A draft report of potential recommendations was released on September 24, 2018.
- A second report outlining the progress made, lessons learned, and outstanding needs was completed by October 1, 2018.
- The draft recommendations portion of the report above were revised October 24. They were updated based on discussions at the October 17-18 task force meeting.
Public comments were accepted on these draft reports and recommendations and provided to the task force for consideration.
Meetings
Previous task force meetings
- March 18, 2019
- November 6, 2018
- Summary of meeting
- Agenda
- Draft recommendations
- Summary of public comments received between October 24 and 29 on the October 24 version of the draft recommendations
- Decision-making procedures for this meeting
- Consensus handout
- Memo on Washington State Department of Ecology vessel traffic safety report
- October 17 & 18, 2018
- August 28, 2018
- August 7, 2018
- Meeting Summary
- Presentations
- List of potential actions
- Agenda
- Consensus Recommendations
- Prey Working Group Matrix
- Vessels Discussion Guide
- Contaminants Working Group Matrix
- Vessel Working Group Matrix
- Prey Hatchery Harvest Predation Guide
- Prey Hydro Habitat Forage Fish Discussion Guide
- Contaminants Discussion Guide
- June 14, 2018
- May 1, 2018
- Summary of Meeting
- Agenda
- Presentations
Informational webinars
Past webinars
- January 10
- October 9
- September 27: Lower Snake River dams panel discussion
- September 19: Spill over the Columbia and Snake River Dams
- About this webinar
- Recording of this webinar failed, but the presentations and other materials are available
- August 15: Economic analysis of the southern resident orcas
- July 24: Relative importance of the different threats to the southern resident orcas
Members
See List of Members
- Co-chair, Stephanie Solien, vice chair of the Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council
- Co-chair, Thomas (Les) Purce, formerly president of Evergreen State College
- Phil Anderson, Pacific Salmon Council
- JT Austin, Governor's office
- Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research
- Lynne Barre, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Maia Bellon, Washington State Department of Ecology
- Rep. Brian Blake (D), District 19, Aberdeen
- Chad Bowechop, Makah Tribe
- Bryce Campbell, Global Affairs Canada
- Gary Chandler, Association of Washington Business
- Karen Condon, Colville Confederated Tribes
- Kaleen Cottingham, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
- Jeff Dickison, Squaxin Island Tribe
- Mark Doumit, Washington Forest Protection Association
- Ron Garner, Puget Sound Anglers
- Joe Gaydos, The SeaDoc Society
- Brendan Flynn, Commercial Fisherman
- Jeff Friedman, Pacific Whale Watch Association
- Chairman Leonard Forsman, Suquamish Tribe
- Cecilia Gobin, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
- Dave Herrera, Skokomish Tribe
- Mayor Will Hall, City of Shoreline
- George Harris, NW Marine Trade Association
- Commissioner Andy Hover, Okanogan County
- Chairman Jay Julius, Lummi Nation
- B.J. Kieffer, Spokane Tribe
- Rep. Drew MacEwen (R), District 35, Union
- Paul McCollum, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe
- Kelly McLain, Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Lisa Lantz, Washington State Parks
- Commissioner Kathy Pittis, Port of Anacortes
- Sen. Kevin Ranker (D), District 40, Orcas Island
- Mindy Roberts, Washington Environmental Council
- Donna Sandstrom, The Whale Trail
- Sheida Sahandy, Puget Sound Partnership
- Amy Scarton, Washington State Department of Transportation
- Ron Schulz, Washington State Conservation Commission
- Evan Sheffels, Washington State Farm Bureau
- Brad Smith, Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
- Butch Smith, Ilwaco Charters
- Commissioner Jamie Stephens, San Juan County
- Kristin Swenddal, Washington State Department of Natural Resources
- Trina Wellman, Northern Economics, Inc.
- Jacques White, Long Live The Kings
- Amy Windrope, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Chairman Tom Wooten, Samish Indian Nation
- Debra Lekanof, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
- Terry Williams, Tulalip Tribes
Background information
- SRKW Task Force Working Group members
- Updated Working Group Member List
- Final Charter
- Considerations for Evaluating Potential Actions (June 2018)
- Vessel Working Group FAQs
Executive Action Reports
RCO Grant Funds
August 22, 2018 Reports
July 31, 2018 Reports
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Priority Chinook Stocks Final Report
- WDFW Southern Resident Orca Prey Story Map
June 14, 2018 Reports
- Governor's Salmon Recovery Office Progress Report on Chinook Funding
- Puget Sound Partnership Progress Report on Outreach
- Department of Ecology Stormwater Progress Report
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Priority Chinook Stocks Progress Report
May 31, 2018 Reports
- Washington State Department of Transportation: Final Report on State Ferries Executive Order Action
- Washington State Ferries: Southern Resident Killer Whale Executive Order Strategy Report
May 1, 2018 Reports
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Final Report on PCBs in Fish Food Executive Order Action
- Governor's Salmon Recovery Office Progress Report on Chinook Funding
- Puget Sound Partnership Progress Report on Outreach
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Executive Order Immediate Action Final Report
- Department of Ecology Stormwater Progress Report
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Priority Chinook Stocks Progress Report
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Vessel Enforcement Outreach Final Report
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Fishing Final Report
- Department of Ecology Vessel of Opportunity Oil Spill Final Report
- Department of Ecology Final Report on Vessel of Opportunity Oil Spill Executive Order Action
- Department of Transportation State Ferries Progress Report
