Whale Trail sign dedication and Orca Month celebration at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park June 21

The Whale Trail and Washington Environmental Council and the City of Shoreline announce the event, “Orca Celebration and Whale Trail Sign Dedication” to promote awareness and stewardship of endangered southern resident orcas.

The free, family-friendly event will take place Friday, June 21 from 1 to 3pm at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, located in the City of Shoreline.

A new interpretive panel focused on marine mammals will be unveiled and dedicated. 

Richmond Beach is one of more than 100 sites along The Whale Trail, a network of marine mammal viewing locations that spans from California to British Columbia.

“Shoreline Parks supports The Whale Trail’s efforts to educate the public about marine mammal populations in Washington, especially the highly endangered Southern Resident orcas. 

"Richmond Beach Saltwater Park is an optimal viewing location for those found here in the central Puget Sound,” said Will Hall, Mayor of Shoreline and Orca Recovery Task Force member.

The program will open with a welcome by Ken Workman, the great, great, great grandson of Chief Seattle. Featured speakers include Shoreline Mayor Will Hall, Senator Jesse Salomon, Representative Cindy Ryu, Lynne Barre (NOAA Fisheries), Steve Bear (WDFW Police), Donna Sandstrom (The Whale Trail) and Rein Atteman (WEC). 

The dedication and orca celebration, including free refreshments, cake and kids’ activities, is one of dozens of Orca Action Month events during the month of June.

“Orca Action Month is a region wide effort to celebrate and protect one of our region’s most iconic wildlife species, but also serves as a reminder that everything that is hurting our orcas hurts us too,” said Rein Attemann, of the Washington Environmental Council. 

“Communities across Washington are suffering from unhealthy waterways, too many toxins in our Sound, and not enough salmon. The plight of our orcas reminds us that our solutions are one in the same.”

This past legislative session Washington took some big steps towards restoring a healthy Puget Sound so our waters are a healthy place for orcas, salmon, and all of us who rely on our shared waters. Continuing that momentum, Governor Inslee and Oregon’s Governor Brown declared June Orca Action Month, building on a 12-year history of yearly declarations to bring attention to the orcas and the health of the Salish Sea.

“It’s not too late to save the southern residents—yet,” adds Donna Sandstrom, Executive Director of The Whale Trail and Orca Recovery Task Force member. 

“The threats that have brought these beloved and iconic pods to the edge of extinction are all human-caused: loss of prey, noise and disturbance from vessels, and toxin accumulations. We each and all have a role to play in their recovery.” 

Furthermore, Orca Action Month proclamations have been passed by the Province of British Columbia, Shoreline, Bainbridge Island, Pierce County, Victoria BC, Vancouver BC, and Seattle. In Washington D.C., Congressman Denny Heck introduced a national resolution declaring June “National Orca Protection Month.”

The new sign at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park is funded through a grant to the Whale Trail from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which protects Southern Resident orcas through its law enforcement program.