Our Work
The San Juan Islands: Precious. Finite. Worth protecting.
Friends of the San Juans protects and restores the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea for people and nature — since 1979. We restore habitat, protect water, forest, farmland and endangered species, while building thriving communities in the San Juan Islands through education, science, advocacy, and citizen engagement.
Healthy
Seas
Natural
Shorelines
Thriving on
the Land
Our Impact
500
hours were spent by trained citizen scientists to survey local beaches for forage fish eggs in 2018-19.
Together with Friends staff, nearly 500 samples were collected from 175 beaches on 9 islands; documenting 11 new Pacific sand lance spawning beaches and 4 new surf smelt spawning sites. That’s good news for the local food chain!
350
linear feet of beach was restored on Shaw Island by removing rock, concrete, and creosote wood debris in 2019.
Forage fish are already spawning eggs on these newly restored beaches!
-120
additional tanker and barge transits per year, which would have transported petrochemicals through the Salish Sea, if Friends had not legally intervened.
Friends and five co-appellants reached an agreement with an Anacortes refinery in 2019 that cancelled plans to manufacture and export xylene.
Upcoming Events
Want to get involved in our Friends community? Join us at our community events!
Speak up for orca!
Say “NO!” to Roberts Bank Terminal 2! Click on the picture for more details.
The Latest
Join us – An Evening in the Islands with Friends – Nov. 15 by Friends of the San Juans
Action Alert: Support Southern Resident orcas! by Friends of the San Juans
More Good News for Salmon Recovery! Conservation Easement Program a Success! by Friends of the San Juans
Salmon Habitat Restored on Sucia Island by Friends of the San Juans
Just a Moment: Thor Hanson finds Gall Wasps
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Thor Hanson discovers galls and animates the natural history of gall wasps— which is truly remarkable! Find out how galls are formed and what happens inside ...Sentinels of Silence: Public Release and Panel Discussion
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Join us for a performance and panel discussion to celebrate the public release of Sentinels of Silence: Whale Watching, Noise, and the Orca.“I want the beach to be able to be here for my grandchildren… for my nieces, nephews, and godchildren. That’s when we made the decision to contact Friends of the San Juans.”
Mariluz Villa, participating shoreline restoration project property owner
Photos by: Mark Gardner (SRKW Action Center), Mark Gardner (Thriving on the Land)