Wednesday January 25, 2023
Chinook Observer —
Starting at the Olympia Ballroom in the state capital’s historic district, students from across Washington carried inflatable orcas and salmon and marched through the streets of Olympia to the steps of the Legislative building.
Chanting “Save our salmon,” members of the Washington Youth Ocean and River Conservation Alliance (WYORCA) and other environmental groups advocated for the protection of Northwest salmon runs and the orca pods that depend on them.
“We need Inslee and the political leaders of the Pacific Northwest, specifically in the state Legislature to understand the urgency of this issue. The salmon cannot wait,” said Maanit Goel, chair of the Sammamish Youth Board.
Dams vs. salmon
In the long run, these youth advocates say they want to see Snake River dams taken down, but they acknowledge it is unlikely the dams will be removed any time soon.