shoreline protection

Local Contractors Gather to Foster Resilient, Vibrant Shorelines in San Juan County

January 28, 2025

This January, 38 contractors—excavators, general contractors, arborists, landscapers, and gardeners—from five different islands came together at the Mullis Center on San Juan Island for a Shore Friendly workshop hosted by Friends of the San Juans in partnership with the Northwest Straits Foundation and the Washington State Shore Friendly Program. The free workshop focused on the ... read more

Who Foots the Bill for an Oil Spill?

February 14, 2024

Ensure Accountability from the Oil Industry The specter of a large oil spill looms over our region, casting a shadow of potential devastation. The stakes are high. At risk are our environment, economy, and cultural resources; the vulnerable Southern Resident killer whales and their dwindling food source, chinook salmon; the forage fish that nurture the ... 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

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

Friends’ Science Director Wins Salish Sea Science Prize

May 19, 2022

On April 28th, Tina Whitman, Science Director at Friends of the San Juans, was awarded the prestigious Salish Sea Science Prize, given biennially by the SeaDoc Society to prominent scientists whose work significantly contributes to the conservation of marine wildlife and the health of Salish Sea ecosystems. “The Salish Sea Science Prize is designed to ... read more

Friends Research Highlights Issues with Shoreline Armor Enforcement and Permitting

January 20, 2022

By Madeline Feaster and Tina Whitman As you know, Friends of the San Juans protects and restores natural shorelines to support forage fish, salmon, and the Southern Resident orca. In addition, Friends also conducts research on these shoreline habitats. We recently completed a Shoreline Armor Mapping, Change Analysis, and Regulatory Review project that provides an ... read more

Islands Conservation Corps planting at Salmon Point, Lopez

December 15, 2021

In early November, Friends staff and members of the Islands Conservation Corps planted native dune grass and conducted beach surveys at the Salmon Point Community Beach on Lopez. This was the last phase in a shoreline habitat restoration project that also included planting native trees and shrubs and removing unnecessary rock armoring and creosote wood ... read more
tags:
forage fish spawning, habitat restoration

Immersive Education with Lopez and Orcas High School

December 15, 2021

Science classes from Lopez and Orcas High Schools just completed Friends’ Immersive Salish Sea Science Education program. Students experienced the marine food web through virtual reality technology, and they learned about science careers and how they can act to protect and restore the Salish Sea. Each class also took a trip to the beach to ... read more
tags:
education, sea science

FSJ and QCD: These Acronyms are Synonymous with Big Impacts

November 11, 2021

At Friends of the San Juans (FSJ) we advocate for orca, healthy seas, and natural beaches. Our policy and education efforts rest on a foundation of science, research, and community engagement. The problems our community faces are wickedly complex and your support is fundamental to building organizational capacity to implement solutions. You have the capacity ... read more
tags:
healthy seas, natural beaches, orca, philanthropy

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

member, Brown 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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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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