Help us help the whales
by treading lightly on this earth,
working to restore and preserve our salmon runs,
watersheds and marine ecosystems.

Orca Network ACTION Page
What YOU can do to help the whales

June 23rd, July 28th, August 18th, and September 8th:

These are the dates the National Parks Conservation Association is offering you the chance to be part of the biggest river restoration project in history! Spend a day in the park jumpstarting the return of 400,000 salmon to Olympic National Park. NPCA and Olympic National Park's Exotic Plant Management Team need your help in removing exotic plants in the Elwha Valley in preparation for the removal of 2 dams on the Elwha River. Be a part of history. Even the fish will thank you!

If you missed our first work trip in May, you have 4 more chances to join!

June 23rd, July 28th, and September 8th will involve heading back in to the Elwha Valley to continue our exotic plant removal efforts. After a few hours of work, those who are interested can join us for a short hike, which will be different each month. We will be meeting each of these days at the Elwha Entrance gate between 9:45 am - 10:00 am.

The August 18th trip is actually 2 or 3 days, whichever you prefer! We will be backpacking up to the upper reaches of the Elwha River on Saturday, August 18th and returning either the 19th or the 20th, your choice. After a short hike, we will set up camp and then remove Herb Robert (Stinky Bob to those who are familiar with its lovely fragrance) in previously untreated areas. This trip will have limited space, so let me know soon if you are interested!

If you are interested in attending any of these trips or would like more information, please contact me, David Graves, at: dgraves@npca.org or (206)903-1444, ext. 25. And be sure to invite your friends!

This is a great chance to get into the park and take out any frustrations on some very bad plants! Hope you’ll be able to join us!

David

David G. Graves, JD
Northwest Field Representative
National Parks Conservation Association
Protecting Our National Parks for Future Generations


Have your own Orca License Plate.

Your personal letters are one of the most effective ways to raise awareness and motivate people to help protect the whales.

Click HERE to see how to write a Letter to the Editor or to public officials

The information on this page is gathered from a variety of sources, including 101 Ways to Heal the Earth, in honor and memory of John Munn, WSU Extension Naturalist and Earth Steward extraordinaire. We invite all of you to be stewards of our earth and water, and to share these ideas with your friends, neighbors and families.

Take ACTION throughout the Salish Sea:

Help the Puget Sound Partnership clean up and restore the vitality of Puget Sound. The Partnership is co-chaired by the Governor; Billy Frank, Jr., Chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission; and Bill Ruckelshaus, Chair of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board. The public is welcome to attend the Partnership's regular meetings.

Orca Network has gone 100% Green with PSE!
Below is more information about PSE's Green Power program, & a link that takes you to their sign-up form. We ask you to join us in taking this step toward promoting renewable energy, & if you aren't a PSE customer, check with your local power company to see what programs they offer - if they don't have one, ask them to create one!

From Puget Sound Energy's website:
Thank you for joining PSE's voluntary Green Power Program to support the development of clean, renewable energy in our region, like wind, solar and biomass.
You decide how much green power you want to purchase:
You can participate for as little as $4 per month, which allows PSE to buy 320 kilowatt- hours (kWh) of renewable energy on your behalf from sources right here in the Northwest. If you'd like to do more, you can purchase additional green power blocks of 160 kWh at $2 each.
You can purchase 100 percent of your energy from renewable sources for only $0.0125 per kWh on top of your monthly electric charges. Your green power charge will depend on your monthly usage.
Green power charges are in addition to your monthly electric bill. It's an easy way to help protect the environment!

From April 1 through May 31, 2007, to welcome you to the Green Power Program, PSE is offering a free gift of coffee from Batdorf & Bronson and Dagoba Organic Chocolate, both produced using green power.

Sign up for PSE's Green Power Program.

Get the latest news and information on the state's efforts to address climate change from a new ListServ provided by the Department of Ecology.
Get information on meetings, updates and accomplishments from the various committees working to address climate change. You also will get news and information on Washington state and global climate change issues. To join, visit Ecology's climate change website (see link below), click on "Contacts" in the left-hand column to find the ListServ link.

Dept. of Ecology Climate Change Website

Take ACTION in your home:

Save Energy:

Insulate your home, caulk & weatherstrip doors & windows, install storm windows & doors (local power companies often offer good deals on energy-saving measures such as these - check with your local power company for details).

Close off unused areas of your home from heat & air conditioning.

Wear warm clothing & turn down heat in winter.

Switch to low-wattage or fluorescent light bulbs.

Turn off all lights that don't need to be on.

Use cold water instead of hot whenever possible.

Opt for small oven or stove-top cooking when preparing small meals.

Run dishwashers only when full.

Set refrigerators to 38 degrees F, freezers to 5 degrees F, no colder.

Run clothes washers full, but don't overload them.

Air dry your laundry when possible.

Clean the lint screen in your dryer.

Instead of ironing, hang clothes in the bathroom while showering.

Insulate your water heater, set it at 121 degrees F.

Plant deciduous shade trees that protect windows from summer sun but allow it in during the winter.

Explore getting a solar water heater for your home.

Save Water:

Take quick showers instead of baths.

Install water-efficient showerheads & sink-faucet aerators.

Install an air-assisted, low-flow, or composting toilet.

Collect rainwater & graywater for gardening use.

Save Resources:

Recycle, reduce & reuse all your household goods - from clothing to motor oil to appliances to newspaper, glass, tin, aluminum & plastic.

Use recycled or used products whenever possible.

Use post-consumer recycled paper or tree-free paper alternatives.

Bring your own cloth bag to the grocery store.

Start a recycling program at your workplace.

Limit or eliminate your use of "disposable" items.

Avoid using anything made of plastic foam. It is often made from CFC's & it never biodegrades.

Don't Pollute:

Use small or moderate amounts of biodegradable detergents.

Avoid overuse of pesticides or fertilizers.

Take ACTION when you travel:

Join a carpool or use public transportation to commute.

Walk or bike instead of drive when traveling shorter distances.

If your car gets less than 35 mpg, sell it & buy a small fuel-efficient model or one of the hybrids now available.

Convert to biodiesel in your car, truck or boat.

Maintain & tune up your vehicle regularly for maximum gas mileage.