Saving orcas, freeing rivers

The film traces the efforts of marine mammalogist Ken Balcomb and a coalition of scientists, who have observed a one-of-a-kind population of orcas for over 40 years. For generations, these whales have hunted Chinook salmon to survive. Now, with salmon numbers plummeting due to damming, blocking them from their spawning grounds, they are at risk of mass starvation and eventual extinction. 

“The orcas need roughly a million salmon a year,” said Balcomb. “The solution is getting rid of four fish-killing dams 500 miles away on the largest tributary to what once was the largest Chinook-producing River on earth.”

Hawley, author of “Recovering a Lost River,” a book that inspired the documentary film “Dam Nation” by Patagonia, as well as “Cracked: The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World,” is a senior correspondent at The Drake Magazine. His work has appeared in Outside Magazine, High Country News, Fly Fisherman, Patagonia, The Seattle Times and The Oregonian. 

Peterson is a documentarian living in the Pacific Northwest. His love for the outdoors and passion for the preservation of land, animals and those who live in it inspire the imagery he captures to be timeless and relevant. Before directing “Dammed to Extinction,” he made “The Rapid Decline of the Lower Deschutes River” — a short film depicting the recent environmental tragedy impacting another prominent Oregon waterway.

“Peterson spent 20 years working in film and television in Hollywood,” said a press release. “His visual effects film credits include ‘Independence Day,’ ‘Armageddon,’ ‘Contact’ and ‘Star Trek: First Contact.’”

 All Stevenson Grange #121 programs are free and open to the public. Special accommodations may be requested using the Disability Accommodation Request Form no later than 15 days prior to the event.

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For more information, please call Mary Repar at (360) 726-7052 or e-mail repar@saw.net.