Research & Maps
Friends’ scientific research gives decision makers the information to make sound choices about San Juan County’s growth management.
Shoreline Inventory
Friends and its partners’ scientific research and habitat assessments help inform the region’s decision-makers and government agencies so their growth management decisions can be based on current science.
Friend’s Nearshore Habitat Assessment
Forage Fish Spawning Habitat Survey
Friends leads efforts in San Juan County to map beach spawning forage fish, including surf smelt and Pacific sand lance, and assists with exploratory surveys for pacific herring spawning areas.
San Juan County Documented Forage Fish Spawn Sites (2021 Update)
San Juan County Forage Fish Spawning Habitat Assessment Report (2004)
San Juan County surf smelt and pacific sand lance spawning habitats (You need the Google Earth program to view file – contact Tina at [email protected] if you would like an alternative version.)
San Juan County known and reported Pacific herring spawning sites (You need the Google Earth program to view the file – contact Tina at [email protected] if you would like an alternative version.)
Exploratory Herring Spawn Surveys Report
Watch Surf Smelt Spawning in Blind Bay on Shaw Island – Video produced by Tessa and Tina Wyllie-Echeverria
Eelgrass Health
Friends and agency partners completed the first countywide mapping of eelgrass. Current projects monitor eelgrass beds in priority bays to assess their location, condition, and impacts from other environmental factors.
San Juan County Eelgrass Report and Maps
San Juan County Eelgrass Habitat
(deep water edge) (You need the Google Earth program to the view file – contact Tina at [email protected] if you would like an alternative version.)
Annual Eelgrass Monitoring Maps:
– Westcott Bay
Restoration Assessment of Eelgrass Decline Report
Bull Kelp Distribution
Friends and agency partners completed the first countywide assessment and mapping of bull kelp distribution.
Bull Kelp Distribution (You need the Google Earth program to view the file – contact Tina at [email protected] if you would like an alternative version.)
WDNR Kelp Mapping Protocol Report
Friends of the San Juans Kelp Habitat White Paper
Feeder Bluff Mapping
Friends partnered with Coastal Geologic Services to complete a countywide feeder bluff mapping effort and works to protect our valuable feeder bluffs by making them a conservation and restoration priority.
Current and Historic Coastal Geomorphic (Feeder Bluff) Mapping of San Juan County, Washington
Feeder Bluff Mapping Project Maps
Shoreline Modification
Friends surveyed all 400+ miles of the county’s marine shorelines, cataloging and mapping over 3,500 individual shoreline modifications such as hard bulkheads, docks, and buoys. Used with habitat inventory results, this data helps identify and prioritize shoreline restoration opportunities. With roughly 40% of all shoreline parcels having been modified in some way, our shorelines are in need of protection.
Cumulative Effects of Shoreline Armoring on Forage Fish Spawning Beach Habitat Report
Inventory of Shoreline Modifications for San Juan County, Washington. Contact FSJ for ArcGIS files and project photos.
San Juan County Shoreline Modification Inventory Restoration Opportunities Report
Sea Level Rise Vulnerability
Friends partnered with coastal scientists to develop a countywide evaluation and mapping of the infrastructure, developments, and habitats that are vulnerable to increased erosion and flooding from rising sea levels. Results are being used by public and private property owners and communities to increase resiliency.
San Juan County Sea Level Rise Inundation Maps
Sea Level Rise for San Juan County Additional Resources
Healthy Beaches for Fish and People Project Reports
Restoration and Protection Planning
Strategic Salmon Recovery Planning – Restoration and Protection Project Prioritization – Final Report (2017)
Restoration Map – Tidal Barriers
Pulling It All Together for Salmon Recovery Final Report (2012)
Appendix B – Marine Riparian Inventory and Maps
Appendix C – Pocket Beach Mapping Report
Appendix D – Sea Level Rise Risk and Resiliency Assessment
Appendix E – Process Degradation Matrix
Mapbook 1 – Fish Use Priority Areas
Mapbook 2 – Process Degradation
Mapbook 3 – Integrated Protection Priorities
Mapbook 4 – Integrated Restoration Priorities
Mapbook 5 – Long Term Protectin SLR
Mapbook 6 – Long Term Restoration SLR
Analysis of Shoreline Permit Activity 1972-2005
Spatially explicit report on shoreline permit activities and trends for San Juan County.
San Juan County Nearshore Impact Assessment
This report summarizes the Countys direct impacts to nearshore marine species and habitats through ownership and management of shoreline infrastructure.
Soft Shore Restoration Blueprint and Appendix
Restoration prioritization for modified beaches in documented and potential forage fish spawning habitat in San Juan County. In partnership with Coastal Geologic Services.
MacKaye Harbor Communty Nearshore Restoration Feasibility Report
Restoration prioritization and community engagement for impacted intertidal and coastal wetland habitats in the MacKaye Harbor region of Lopez Island. In partnership with Coastal Geologic Services.
San Juan County Habitat Protection Blueprint Project
Identification of most important shoreline habitat sites for long term protection using existing conservation strategies such as acquisition, easement or tax incentive program. Geographic Systems modeling effort that incorporates biological, land use, landscape and landowner willingness information into the analysis.
Vessel Traffic and Fossil Fuel Export in the Salish Sea
Salish Sea Spill Map Project (A multi-year research project to better understand the path an oil spill might take, and how far the oil could travel.)
Other Reports
Puget Sound Basin – Biodiversity Assessment
Published by the Center for Biological Diversity, with assistance from Friends of the San Juans
Marine Mammals and Acoustic Pollution
By: Rebecca J. Bressan, Washington State University Sponsored by, Samish Indian Nation and The Friends of the San Juans