Tacoma Volunteers Are Getting Their Hands Dirty for Orcas

You don’t have to head out on the water to take part in Orca Recovery Day. On Saturday, October 17, Tacoma volunteers can join restoration projects at neighborhood parks, a rare patch of oak prairie and a waterfront salt marsh. Parks Tacoma’s work parties at Titlow Park and McKinley Park run from 9 a.m. to noon, with additional opportunities organized by Pierce Conservation District and EarthCorps.

The connection starts with salmon. Southern Resident orcas eat primarily Chinook and other salmon, making the health of those fish and their habitat central to recovery efforts. Orca Recovery Day brings communities together to restore habitat, reduce stormwater pollution and learn how everyday choices affect Puget Sound. Washington conservation districts created the initiative after Tahlequah, a Southern Resident orca, carried her dead calf for 17 days in 2018.

At Titlow Park, volunteers will help restore bird-friendly habitat through native planting, invasive-species removal and other maintenance, meeting in the main parking lot. At McKinley Park, the work focuses on clearing invasive weeds, with volunteers meeting near the entrance on Upper Park Street. Both Parks Tacoma events welcome all ages and abilities, require no previous experience and provide tools and training. One practical difference for families: Titlow has restrooms available; McKinley does not.

For a different kind of landscape, Trafton Slope Open Space has a work party from 9 a.m. to noon. The site contains remnants of oak prairie, an increasingly rare ecosystem, and volunteers will care for existing plants, remove weeds and spread mulch. Pierce Conservation District says the work supports water quality, wildlife and pollinators. The exact meeting location is provided after registration, and volunteers younger than 16 must attend with a parent or guardian.

At Tahoma Salt Marsh, EarthCorps and Pierce Conservation District are hosting native tree and shrub planting from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The project specifically supports salmon habitat along Tacoma’s waterfront, offering a closer look at the connection between shoreline restoration and orca recovery. EarthCorps supplies gloves, tools and instruction, so newcomers can participate. Parking near the site is limited; check the organizer’s directions before heading out.

Register ahead through the event listings below, and plan for a morning that happens rain or shine. Wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes and clothes that can get dirty, bring water and warm layers, and check your chosen event’s youth requirements. Parks Tacoma requires registration and gloves, with loaner gloves available. The whales will be elsewhere, but the work begins right here in Tacoma.

Event details and registration: Titlow and McKinley parks · Trafton Slope · Tahoma Salt Marsh