'Fish flush' could be part of orca and salmon recovery
The state Department of Ecology is unveiling a proposal that would increase water spilled over Columbia and Snake river dams, to assist downstream migration of young salmon and ultimately help endangered killer whales.
The expanded spring "fish flush" is part of Gov. Jay Inslee's bid to increase fish populations in order to boost survival of the critically endangered southern resident population of orcas off the Washington coast and in inland waters.
The killer whales are finicky eaters and exist largely on chinook salmon, which are also endangered.
"Helping more juvenile salmon survive the journey to ocean is one of many steps we want to take to protect and restore salmon: Our hope is that this will also support the recovery and sustained health of our orcas," Inslee said in a statement.
https://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/Should-salmon-and-Orca-whale-recovery-require-13571902.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletterspi&utm_term=spi
