Year: 2022

Brown Island Restoration Update

December 14, 2022

We soaked up some fall sunshine during a follow-up visit to our restoration site on Brown Island near Friday Harbor. Huge thanks to participating private landowners, the Islands Conservation Corps (ICC) and Northwest Straits Foundation for their support of this work! Friends and the ICC removed unnatural rock that had surfaced since our initial 2015 armor removal and beach ... read more

This November, Amplify Indigenous Voices

November 17, 2022

It’s Native American Heritage Month, and here at Friends, we’re reflecting amongst ourselves and with our partners, exploring what it means to be good allies to Tribal Nations. Our work takes place on the homelands of the Lummi, Saanich, Klallam and Samish who have a deep history rooted here in their traditional fishing grounds—though many ... read more

Course Correction Needed for Rapidly Changing Shorelines

November 17, 2022

The shorelines of the San Juan Islands are dynamic places where land and sea meet in a collision of geology, water, and natural forces. When left unchanged by humans, shorelines and the wide range of life they support are amazingly resilient. But what happens when we modify our shorelines to accommodate our desires to build ... read more

Known Pacific Sand Lance Spawning Sites in San Juan County More Than Doubled

October 20, 2022

Friends of the San Juans recently completed a multi-year research project for a particular species of forage fish: the Pacific sand lance. Forage fish are an essential player in the Salish Sea marine food web as prey for salmon, rockfish, seabirds, and other marine mammals. Sand lance are especially important in the diet of juvenile ... read more

Important Lessons Learned From an Oil Spill

September 21, 2022

On Saturday, September 17th, the fishing vessel ALEUTIAN ISLE was successfully lifted more than 200 feet from the ocean floor, five weeks after it sank off the west side of San Juan Island. On September 20th the remaining fuel onboard the vessel was removed. Friends of the San Juans is grateful that the threat of ... read more

Speak Up for Southern Resident Orca!

September 21, 2022

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public input on the rules for vessels operating near Southern Resident killer whales; this input will be used for a report to the legislature. Take this opportunity to speak up on behalf of the Southern Residents! Here are our recommendations for your public input on ... read more

Phillips 66 Canceled Their Permit Following Legal Action From Friends of the San Juans

September 21, 2022

More good news resulting from Friends’ legal victory against fossil-fuel giant Phillips 66: The permit that was litigated has been officially withdrawn and the project to construct two new storage tanks has been canceled. Had the permit been issued, the storage tanks would have increased the Phillips 66 refinery’s operational storage capacity by nearly 10%, ... read more

Kirsten Kane | Salish Sea Strategy and Engagement Manager

September 18, 2022

Kirsten Kane, Ph.D. Salish Sea Strategy and Engagement Managershe/her/hers Kirsten joins Friends with extensive experience in ocean ecology and marine policy. Kirsten will help build and support our coalition efforts, work with the press, and enhance community engagement to protect the health and biodiversity of the Salish Sea.. With a Ph.D. in Ocean Ecology and ... read more

Prepare to be inspired October 1st!

September 5, 2022

Join Friends for a special afternoon with Amy Gulick Amy is a widely acclaimed writer and photographer, whose award-winning books include The Salmon Way: An Alaska State of Mind, and Salmon in the Trees: Life in Alaska’s Tongass Rain Forest. Through her storytelling, engaging experiences, and stunning images, Amy will be asking us to think ... read more

The Sinking of the ALEUTIAN ISLE

August 25, 2022

On Saturday, August 13th the fishing vessel ALEUTIAN ISLE sank off the west side of San Juan Island. Our hearts go out to the people on board who were directly affected by the accident, and our sincere thanks go out to everyone who has been involved in the rescue of the crew and the response ... read more

We believe that our property is more valuable if we and our neighbors protect the shoreline. Orcas need salmon. Salmon need forage fish. Salmon and forage fish need the protection of eelgrass and kelp. Eelgrass and kelp need clean water. Shoreline protections are good for ecosystems and for the long-term economy of these lovely islands.

Val and Leslie Veirs

members, San Juan Island

Friends’ mission is to bring people and nature together to protect the San Juans Islands and the Salish Sea through education, science, policy and law. Friends of the San Juans does not engage in political endorsements. As a nonpartisan organization, we cannot speak to individual candidates’ qualifications.
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Protect this Place™ is a tagline of Friends of the San Juans.

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PO Box 1344
Friday Harbor, WA 98250

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650 Mullis St # 201
Friday Harbor, WA 98250

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(360) 378-2319
EIN: 91-1087153

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