Friends of the San Juans

Check out the March issue of our e-newsletter – Highwater Marks! You’ll learn about our new virtual reality education program, get the link for our petition that asks the WA Department of Ecology to require oil spill contingency plans that include the required wildlife response protections for the critically endangered Southern Residents, hear how shifting baselines are ... read more

A few years ago, I was combing the beach of Barlow Bay on Lopez Island when I found a whelk shell that had washed out of a midden. This shell was easily ten times larger than the others I had often found dotting the beach, and I have never seen another whelk shell like it. ... read more

For the ultimate immersive experience, we recommend using virtual reality headsets to view the video, like the Oculus Quest units that students use in the classroom. The next best option is an inexpensive cardboard viewer you can use at home, like Google cardboard headsets that use your smart phone to transform the 360˚ YouTube video into a ... read more

Check out our new Shoreline Restoration website! You’ll explore an interactive map and see Friends of the San Juans’ restoration projects that have been completed in partnership with private, Tribal, and public landowners. With an overall goal of improving the marine food web, these projects restored shorelines impacted by unnecessary modifications such as bulkheads, tide gates, groins, ... read more

Check out the first issue of our new e-newsletter – Highwater Marks! You’ll learn about how you can help salmon and orca with your shoreline property, get an update on San Juan County’s Comp Plan progress, hear about what experiences from the pandemic we can apply to the climate crisis, get the first look at our ... read more

We are excited to share our Mud Bay (Sucia Island) Restoration video. This project reconnected a salt marsh to the bay for the first time in 75 years and removed tons of armoring, rock, and fill off of a forage fish spawning beach. These actions restored juvenile salmon and forage fish habitat – improving the food ... read more

For many decades, working on behalf of and with our members, Friends of the San Juans has been diligently engaging in updates to San Juan County’s official Comprehensive Plan. Known as the “Comp Plan,” it guides how our community will look in the future. The County’s Comp Plan sets goals and priorities that guide the ... read more

2020 was supposed to be the year where we acted on the climate crisis. It was the fifth anniversary of the Paris climate agreement, the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day, and the conclusion of a historical decade for climate activism. Instead, it was a year like no other. Fires, hurricanes, and a global pandemic. But ... read more

At this time of year, I reflect on the relationships and connections I have had with our members. I’m truly grateful to hear how our work resonated with you, and I hold sacred space for the privilege of hearing your personal stories. In the personal phone and Zoom calls that replaced face-to-face interactions this year, ... read more

We have secured the funds, the experts are ready, all we need now are more waterfront property owners to take steps to support the marine ecosystem. While it may not be as thrilling as securing your appointment to get vaccinated against Covid-19, it is quite exciting news for forage fish, salmon, and Southern Resident orca! ... read more