Dams, Salmon, and Orcas

Abstract

Dams are a staple in many areas, providing drinking water and hydropower to billions. But as history has shown, major alterations to the environment such as these can have unexpected results on local wildlife. This issue is presenting itself in the Salish Sea, with no other species feeling the full force of it quite like the Chinook salmon and the Southern Resident Killer Whales. Both populations have shown alarming rates of decline, with both being listed as threatened and endangered under the Endangered Species Act, respectively. This podcast explores the effects of dams on Chinook salmon and killer whales, along with the measures that can be taken to reverse the damage done to these vulnerable populations.