Submitted by Friends of the San Juans.

Friends of the San Juans will explore the plight of the Southern Resident orcas and engage the community in actions that can help their recovery.

Orcas Island – Thursday, March 14, noon-1:30 p.m., Orcas Senior Center,

Lopez Island – Tuesday, March 19, noon-1:30 p.m., Woodmen Hall.

San Juan Island – Wednesday, March 20, noon-1:30 p.m., San Juan Island Grange Hall.

Find out what the Southern Resident orcas need to survive and thrive including how San Juan County shorelines contribute to orca health; how many Chinook salmon are needed to support the population; how the Snake, Frasier, Columbia, Skagit and other river systems impact the orca; and the current status of state and federal legislation that would protect and recover Southern resident orcas. Find out how to make your voice heard and how you can help protect and recover the Southern resident orcas.

The featured speakers include Lovel Pratt, Friends of the San Juans’ Marine Protection program director, and Dr. Deborah Giles, research scientist for the University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology and research director for Wild Orca.

Since 1979, Friends of the San Juans has used science and policy to protect and preserve the San Juan Islands and Salish Sea for people and nature. Visit sanjuans.org for more information.