In the San Juan Islands, over 90% of waterfront tax parcels are in private, residential ownership. Protecting habitat is the most efficient and effective way to support the marine environment. Partnering with Blue Coast Engineering, Northwest Straits Foundation, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program, Friends of the San Juans recently held three Shoreline Property Owner Workshops across Lopez, San Juan, and Orcas Islands, with over 100 participants. If you missed the workshop, no worries! Access the full recording and materials below, covering shoreline ecology, geology, vegetation, drainage, and habitat, and more!
Explore the crucial ecosystems that encompass over 400 miles of shoreline in San Juan County. Learn practical tips for managing waterfront properties for future generations.
Spring 2024
Shoreline Property Owner Workshop on Orcas Island
Read through the Key Points Handout and Agenda for more information and resources.
Are you a shoreline property owner?
Learn how to safeguard your shoreline from the comfort of your own home! We’re here to guide you through shore-friendly property management options, such as practical tips for managing your waterfront property for future generations.
A big thank you to our partners, Blue Coast Engineering and Northwest Straits Foundation!
Take a deep dive with these resources!
- Visit sanjuans.org/shore-friendly to learn more about Shore Friendly site visits and what Friends can do for you!
- Access historic maps at http://riverhistory.ess.washington.edu/tsheets/. Zoom in to find the map nearest you to see what your area looked like around 1900.
- Explore shoreline photos from 1970 to 2019 at https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/shorephotoviewer/. Note: zoom in on the map to find the site closest to you and then choose individual years or ‘compare years’ on the tool bar in the upper left to select the images to view.
- More resources for waterfront owners about vegetation, drainage and more at https://nwstraitsfoundation.org/project/resources-for-shoreline-landowners/ and https://sanjuans.org/shoreline-vegetation-resources-for-san-juan-county/
- Find a certified arborist here at https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
- Explore Washington State’s Shore Friendly Program at http://www.shorefriendly.org/
- Local shoreline development and permitting information can be found at https://www.sanjuanco.com/1178/Developing-shoreline-property
- Find green boating resources at https://sanjuans.org/program/green-boating/
- Visit https://sanjuans.org/program/shoreline-restoration/ for more information about Friends-led restoration projects.
Funded wholly or in part by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Estuary & Salmon Recovery Program.
