Topic: Environment

Fire at American Camp

Written on July 15, 2018 at 5:48 pm, by

San Juan Island National Historical Park has Wildland Fire On Sunday, July 15th, 2018, a historic weapons artillery demonstration caused a wildland fire at American Camp within San Juan Island National Historical Park. National Park Service personnel called 911, and San Juan Fire District #3 responded. The fire spread rapidly in dry grass fuels with  Continue Reading

Science Writing From the Perspective of the UW Friday Harbor Laboratories

Written on July 9, 2018 at 1:40 pm, by

This is an excerpt from, Writing Right There, by Eric Morel. Morel is a doctoral candidate in the Department of English at the University of Washington and this spring taught the “Science Writing for Diverse Audiences” course at Friday Harbor Laboratories.  “One of the great benefits of studying science writing at FHL is the way stakes  Continue Reading

State Upholds San Juan County’s Shoreline Master Program

Written on June 21, 2018 at 10:31 am, by

San Juan County adopted a new Shoreline Master Program (SMP) in November 2017.  Friends of the San Juans appealed the SMP to the Growth Management Hearings Board (Board) alleging seven issues Friends claimed did not meet the requirements of state law.  Friends asked the Board to invalidate the SMP.  The Board held a hearing in  Continue Reading

The Land Bank Says Thank You!

Written on June 19, 2018 at 5:49 am, by

Islanders, thank you for “Getting Outdoors” and joining the Land Bank at our Zylstra Lake Preserve Open House last weekend. The response was incredible, with almost 200 visitors over the six-hour event, and on a busy June Saturday to boot! It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying the property and to hear the community’s positive  Continue Reading

National Get Outdoors Day: Zylstra Lake Preserve Open House

Written on June 7, 2018 at 5:50 am, by

Here’s a note from Doug McCutchen of the SJC Land Bank… Hey Island(s) Friends – the Land Bank and Preservation Trust are hosting an open house at Zylstra Lake this Saturday from 10a-4pm. This is an opportunity to come walk through the property and more importantly ask questions AND provide feedback to the two organizations  Continue Reading

Judd Cove Boat Fire

Written on June 6, 2018 at 5:49 am, by

From the SJC Dept. of Emergency Management… At approximately 7am on June 5th, San Juan County Dispatch received a report of a vessel on fire in Judd Cove near Eastsound on Orcas Island. Personnel from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, San Juan Island Fire, Orcas Island Fire & Rescue and the United States Coast  Continue Reading

Residential Burning Extended to June 15th

Written on May 31, 2018 at 5:41 am, by

From the San Juan County Fire Marshal’s Office: All residential burn permits will expire at noon on June 15th. Residential burning will be closing two weeks later than the scheduled date of May 31st. Residential burn permits are issued for the burning of brush and limbs in areas of the islands that are not within  Continue Reading

Friends Challenges Army Corps of Engineers

Written on May 25, 2018 at 7:14 am, by

Groups Challenge Army Corps of Engineers’ Refusal to Protect Puget Sound Shorelines Corps’ Seattle District violates Clean Water Act, endangers Sound recovery SEATTLE – A lawsuit filed today against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) charges that the agency has refused to assert its Clean Water Act jurisdiction over most shoreline armoring in Puget  Continue Reading

Improvements to Local Spill Response Capacity

Written on May 22, 2018 at 5:52 am, by

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance local capacity to respond to oil and hazardous materials spills, three San Juan County organizations participated in the 2018 Washington State Department of Ecology Spill Response Grant Program. This program helps local communities that are at risk for oil and hazardous materials spills secure equipment and training to  Continue Reading

Economic Forecast Luncheon

Written on May 15, 2018 at 2:47 pm, by

EDC presents 9th Annual Economic Forecast Luncheon: The Future of Water in San Juan County Join the conversation on The Future of Water in San Juan County at the 9th Annual EDC Economic Forecast Luncheon, held at Brickworks in Friday Harbor on Wednesday, May 23rd from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The EDC’s annual luncheon will  Continue Reading

Legal Rights for the Salish Sea?

Written on April 29, 2018 at 5:53 am, by

Legal Rights for the Salish Sea? Expanding our Circle of Citizenship Join Community Rights San Juan Islands at San Juan Island Grange 966, 152 1st St, Friday Harbor, Thursday, May 10th, for a screening of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s  presentation “We the People: Expanding Our Circle of Citizenship”. The screening will be followed by a lively  Continue Reading

Vegetation Workshops for Waterfront Property Owners

Written on April 28, 2018 at 5:53 am, by

The shorelines of San Juan County are part of a beautiful, complex and increasingly fragile marine ecosystem. Healthy coastal trees and shrubs help stabilize banks, provide for views, and support fish and wildlife. Attend a free workshop hosted by Friends of the San Juans to learn about cost effective and natural approaches to protecting waterfront  Continue Reading

Year of the Bird Celebration

Written on April 27, 2018 at 9:28 am, by

Join the Land Bank, Wolf Hollow, The San Juan Preservation Trust, San Juan Island National Historical Park, and San Juan County Master Gardener Foundation as they celebrate the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act at Red Mill Farm on San Juan Island. Sunday, May 6th from 10:30am to 3:00pm at Red Mill Farm, San Juan Island. There  Continue Reading

Luke Wallace Concert

Written on April 23, 2018 at 5:46 am, by

Get Inspired, Entertained and Empowered at an Upcoming Luke Wallace Concert Canadian Folk Musician and coastal water protector Luke Wallace is partnering with Friends of the San Juans for benefit concerts to celebrate and protect the Salish Sea. The concerts will raise funds for Friends’ Marine Protection Program, which safeguards our region from the risk  Continue Reading

Procession of the Species

Written on April 22, 2018 at 9:30 am, by

An Earth Day gift for you – Liza Michaelson shares this video from Saturday’s 9th annual Lopez Island Procession of the Species. This year the focus was on native species. The organizers borrowed dorsal fins representing every JK and L pod member from San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping, and Lopez islanders turned out in  Continue Reading

Great Islands Clean-up

Written on April 21, 2018 at 9:57 am, by

Earth Day is this Sunday and it is also the day for the 2018 Great Islands Clean-up. People are encouraged to clean-up around their own homes and neighborhoods to help our islands be “Litter Free by the Sea”. Visitors and locals alike are asked to watch out for cleaners along the roads this day to  Continue Reading