Protecting Shoreline Ecosystems
Shoreline Restoration
Restoring the places where land and sea give life
Friends of the San Juans strengthens the resilience of San Juan shorelines through science-based restoration that protects habitat for forage fish, eelgrass, and herring. From upgrading mooring buoys to removing derelict structures, our projects restore natural shoreline processes and safeguard the health of nearshore ecosystems for future generations.
Natural beaches support forage fish, salmon, and Southern Resident killer whales
Waterfront landowners play a crucial role in protecting and restoring habitats for birds, fish, and marine mammals. Free site visits with experts are available. Please email friends@sanjuans.org or call 360-378-2319 to explore potential restoration actions for shorelines.
Friends of the San Juans’ Restoration Projects
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Eelgrass and forage fish habitat restored by removing a derelict dock, including 1,200 square feet of overwater structure, 26 creosote pilings, pier decking, and 26 cubic yards of rock and…
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Friends of the San Juans restored a historic feeder bluff located on the southeast shore of Brown Island near Friday Harbor in partnership with three private landowners. The bluff and…
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In 2017, 600 linear feet of shoreline was improved along Shaw Island’s Blind Bay, a priority forage fish spawning region in the county. The surf smelt that spawns year round…
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Along Broken Point on Shaw Island, multiple landowners are working to improve the management of their shoreline. One landowner has partnered with Friends to remove her 235 linear foot vertical…
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Beach and riparian restoration through removal of a derelict concrete structure, intertidal rock and debris cleanup, and shoreline planting. Set to be completed in Fall 2025.
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400 waterfront feet of salt marsh and tidal channel habitat restored through removal of outdated rock and wood ditches, dikes, and berms (2017). The flow of tidal water, habitat for…
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100 waterfront feet of forage fish beach spawning habitat restored by removing creosote and concrete (2008). To our surprise, excitement, and amazement, all of the effort involved with our restoration…
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Salt marsh reconnected and forage fish spawning beach restored by removing nearly 300 linear feet of a low lying road and associated armoring, fill and culvert (2020). State Parks appreciates…
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Friends of the San Juans and the Salmon Point Community on Lopez Island have successfully restored priority shoreline habitat along their local beach. Critical habitat along a 430 foot long…
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Five-acre coastal lagoon habitat, water quality and fish passage improved by removing concrete tide gate and fill from the tide channel (2009). We wish to thank everyone involved for the…
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300 linear feet of shoreline, at a known surf smelt spawning beach, was improved by reducing the footprint of the road protection, removing unnatural large rock from the intertidal beach,…
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200 waterfront feet of subtidal and intertidal habitat restored at a known forage fish spawning beach by removing an outdated log handling facility and rebuilding an existing barge landing into…
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200 waterfront feet of beach and salt marsh habitat restored by removing an unnecessary rock bulkhead (2009). In San Juan County, there are hundreds of unnecessary bulkheads on beaches, placed…
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Documented forage fish spawning habitat restoration through removal of shoreline armor and concrete debris from the intertidal beach. Set to be completed in Fall 2026.
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150 waterfront feet of pocket beach habitat restored by removing a large rock and creosote bulkhead (2015). When we were looking at our options for redeveloping our property, one of…
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