Topic: Environment

League of Women Voters Presentation

Written on March 1, 2018 at 5:46 am, by

League of Women Voters presents meeting on threats and opportunities of the Salish Sea ecosystem The League of Women Voters of the San Juans will host an informative meeting on threats to the future of the Salish Sea and efforts to protect it at 12:30 p.m., Monday, March 12 at the San Juan Island Library  Continue Reading

Ferry in Snow

Written on February 21, 2018 at 5:31 pm, by

SJ Update reader Kristen Arnim caught this beautiful image of the Samish coming into the ferry dock this afternoon. Thanks for sharing Kristen!

Orca Protection & Rescue

Written on February 21, 2018 at 5:54 am, by

“I’ve had enough and I just can’t do this anymore.” After 15-years as a whale watch tour operator, Captain Alan “Hobbes” Buchanan’s passion for whales has led him to create Orca Protection & Rescue, a new organization aimed at helping to save the whales and wildlife of the Salish Sea. Orca Protection & Rescue will  Continue Reading

“Best of the Fest” The Memory of Fish, Tuesday at the Grange

Written on February 18, 2018 at 5:35 am, by

Friday Harbor Film Festival will be showing The Memory of Fish at the Grange on Tuesday, February 20.  The Memory of Fish is a documentary portrait of the intertwined lives of Dick Goin and wild fish, and his fight to free a river. Elwha River salmon fed Dick and his family after they migrated to the  Continue Reading

Kyle Loring Says Goodbye After Ten Friendly Years

Written on February 9, 2018 at 5:45 am, by

After ten years of public service as Friends of the San Juans’ staff attorney, Kyle Loring will be leaving the organization in June to pursue other endeavors. Starting this month, Friends will conduct a search for a talented environmental attorney to serve the people and wildlife of the San Juans. Since Friends hired Kyle in  Continue Reading

It’s “The Last Straw” for the San Juans!

Written on February 7, 2018 at 5:30 am, by

From Katie at the Friends of the San Juan… Plastics Reduction Community Kick-off Party – February 13, 6 p.m., San Juan Island Brewing Company Did you know that we use over 500 million plastic straws in the United States every day? And that by the year 2050 there will be more plastic trash in the  Continue Reading

Mount Grant Preserve Grows to Almost 250 Acres!

Written on February 6, 2018 at 3:21 pm, by

Great news from Tanja at the Land Bank… On the heels of the Zylstra Lake acquisition, the San Juan County Land Bank was able to secure and additional 60+ acres adjacent to Mount Grant Preserve. “Mount Grant is one of the most fascinating projects I have worked on since becoming a land bank commissioner,” said  Continue Reading

Mission Blue

Written on January 29, 2018 at 5:50 am, by

Friday Harbor Film Festival’s “Best of the Fest” presents: “Mission Blue” – a film about legendary oceanographer, Sylvia Earle. She is on a personal mission to save our oceans. Mission Blue is part oceanic road trip, part biography, part action adventure story, and part expose of an eco-disaster. The film deftly weaves her unique personal  Continue Reading

CWR Video Campaign

Written on January 15, 2018 at 5:51 am, by

The Center For Whale Research is taking action to increase public awareness of the Southern Resident Killer Whales by taking the message onboard Washington State Ferries. Ken Balcomb, Founder and Principal Investigator of the Center For Whale Research launched a video ad campaign January 9th. This 15 second video will play in daily rotation on  Continue Reading

Island Women’s March

Written on January 11, 2018 at 5:50 am, by

Fired Up! Ready to go! Island Women’s March invites all islands to participate in a sidewalk march on January 20th, 2018 in Friday Harbor. We will meet at the Friday Harbor Courthouse on 1st Street, next to the American Legion. Staging time will be at Noon and the march will start at 12:30. The Saturday  Continue Reading

Over 280 acres Secured in San Juan Valley

Written on January 9, 2018 at 2:45 pm, by

2018 looks like another busy and exciting year for your Land Bank! Almost two years to the day, and a full year before the loan was due, the highly anticipated acquisition of the Zylstra Lake property on San Juan Island came to a fruitful end. The public-private partnership of the San Juan County Land Bank  Continue Reading

Port Commission Meeting

Written on January 9, 2018 at 2:43 pm, by

Tomorrow, Wednesday January 10th,  the Port of Friday Harbor  Commissioners will meet to discuss among other things, the FAA requirement of removing trees and obstructions from the area south of the runway. This is required for the airport to maintain its IFR (Instrument Flight Rating) which is necessary for Airlift Northwest to be able to  Continue Reading

Town to Offer Christmas Tree Recycling

Written on January 5, 2018 at 5:43 am, by

The Town of Friday Harbor will collect Christmas trees for residents inside Town limits on January 8-12, 2018 on your scheduled weekly garbage day. Trees should be placed at the curb no later than 9:00 a.m. and should be separate from other unbundled trash and woody waste. To ensure the success of the tree recycling  Continue Reading

Beachwalkers Wanted!

Written on December 28, 2017 at 5:47 am, by

Help make a difference for the environment by collecting marine debris data for the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST). COASST is a citizen science program involving participants in the collection of high quality data used in natural resource management and conservation decisions. Marine debris participants collect data on the characteristics and location of  Continue Reading

FRIENDS Appeals SMP

Written on December 26, 2017 at 5:47 am, by

On Friday, December 22nd, the Friends of the San Juans (Friends) appealed San Juan County’s recently updated Shoreline Master Program (“SMP”) to the Washington Growth Management Hearings Board. The SMP is the primary tool for protecting the fragile marine ecosystem that depends on the health of that narrow band of shoreline where the water meets  Continue Reading

Solstice Trail Blazing

Written on December 19, 2017 at 5:48 am, by

The trail blazers are taking advantage of the sun’s return THIS THURSDAY – winter solstice! It may be the shortest day of the year, but there’s plenty of daylight to continue shaping the Westside trail extension. Start time is the same as last week, 10:00 am, and any time you can lend to the project is  Continue Reading