Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, Washington restaurants will no longer automatically include single-use food service items like utensils, condiments, and straws with food orders. A new state law restricts the use of these items and prohibits packaged bundles of single-use items in order to reduce waste and litter – although customers can still request individual items if needed.  Continue Reading

From drought conditions this summer to record rainfall and flooding last month, water management is certainly a critical issue. San Juan County’s Clean Water Utility, managed by the Department of Environmental Stewardship, serves citizens by addressing storm and surface water infrastructure improvements such as stream culverts and water quality treatment. The Utility also sweeps and  Continue Reading

All in a day’s work for our stewards! Check out this time lapse video volunteer Michael Noonan shot of the dock demo at Fisherman Bay Spit Preserve Lopez Island: https://vimeo.com/645420585/bda88786e9  The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting on December 17, from 8:30am – 10:20am, followed by a special meeting  Continue Reading

This article was Submitted by Transitions San Juan Island Waste Management Group… What keeps on giving each year? Creating traditions that help nature: A potted fir tree brought inside to decorate, used yearly; growing side by side with us all. A candle lit every Xmas eve. A cactus passed down through generations, nourished and watered  Continue Reading

The Conservation Land Bank and the Preservation Trust recently completed a forest assessment at Turtleback and Turtlehead Preserves. The resulting report (click here to view report) outlines a variety of forest management actions aimed at increasing forest health, habitat value and climate change resiliency. Staff are incorporating the recommended actions into the forthcoming update to  Continue Reading

The County Council is searching for volunteers to fill two upcoming vacancies on the San Juan County Land Bank Commission. At large, Position 4 – four-year term expiring December 2025 (Orcas, Crane, Obstruction and Waldron Islands) At large, Position 5 – four-year term expiring December 2025 (San Juan, Brown, Henry and Stuart Islands) If you  Continue Reading

After more than two years of research and community outreach, the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank has entered the final phase in planning future agricultural operations at Coffelt Farm Preserve. The Land Bank invites the public to submit written comments on a new Coffelt Farm study and to attend a Zoom meeting on December  Continue Reading

Just in time for Holiday Gift Season, Join Anita Barreca and Tina Fisher in learning how to make Beeswax Wraps.  They’re easy!  Just bring your own 100% cotton fabric cut to the proper sizes and a few bucks to cover the cost of the beeswax.  Space is limited so sign up soon and we will  Continue Reading

This morning we find a letter to you in the San Juan Update Mailbag from Steve Ulvi… In the late 1960s, my outdoor adventures grew grittier; in wilder landscapes, greatly expanding on childhood camping trips.  My dominant interests became nature-centered, access under one’s own power.  I felt the thrum of the non-human community of life  Continue Reading

The following is submitted by San Juan Island resident Angie Light with the Transition San Juan Waste Reduction Group… My family and I are new to the island, and one of the many characteristics of San Juan that we love is the access to wonderful farms and farmers. Many an evening our family meal is  Continue Reading

San Juan County, WA, USA. – The recently updated Salish Sea Vessel Traffic Projections (PDF – Nov. 2021) provided by Friends of the San Juans shows that at least a 25% increase in large, ocean-going commercial vessel traffic could occur if all of the proposed new and expanding terminal and refinery projects are permitted and  Continue Reading

The San Juan County Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting on November 19, from 8:30am-11:30am via Zoom. The public is invited to attend. Click HERE to download the agenda (includes ZOOM link) and meeting materials, including the Coffelt Farm Lease Rate and Reserve Study. (PDF) To learn more about your Conservation Land Bank,  Continue Reading

Calling all high school students on Orcas and San Juan Islands interested in environmental action! Are you passionate about the environment? Do you wish to see positive change in your community? Join the Youth for Change Environmental Leadership Club, a program led by Friends of the San Juans.  Youth for Change provides an opportunity for  Continue Reading

The Town of Friday Harbor’s free monthly residential curbside pickup of plastic film for recycling begins Wednesday, October 27th. Customers have been given “Plastic Film Only” recycling bins and asked to participate in a one-year pilot program sponsored by the Town in partnership with SC Johnson, the global manufacturer of Windex® and other household brands.   Continue Reading

The Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force is honoring Marta Green with a 2021 Legacy Award for her committed leadership in developing and advancing the San Juan Islands’ Oil Spill Prevention Strategy. Over the last five years, Marta secured grant funding and managed two projects to advance oil spill prevention measures for the shipping lanes through  Continue Reading

FRIDAY HARBOR, WA. – As summer Chinook salmon runs wane in the Salish Sea, Southern Resident Killer Whales typically begin to travel further south in Puget Sound in search of prey. A study compiling 10 years’ worth of data found evidence that the whales’ diets shift from primarily Chinook salmon in the summer months to a  Continue Reading