During the spring, summer, and fall, the range of Southern Resident killer whales includes the coastal and inland waterways of Washington State and the transboundary waters between the United States and Canada. We have been learning more about their winter movements and range through dedicated and collaborative research efforts.
Threats To The Whale
Among many dangers to the whales that live in the Pacific Northwest, a scarce supply of their preferred prey—salmon—pose serious threats to this endangered population.

Dam Removal
Salmon are a cold-water species. After decades of urban development, agricultural, forestry, and energy development impacts, restoring freshwater habitats is a critical component of all salmon recovery plans in the Pacific Northwest. We assess the effects of ongoing restoration activities, evaluate the impact of removing passage barriers such as the Elwha River dams, examine the potential for habitat improvement across landscapes such as the Columbia River Basin.