Here’s a thought…
“The competition between Nature and the economy is deep and broad.
In the short term, the economy usually wins. In the long term …?”
BILL APPEL
Action alert for San Juan Islands, Salish Sea
||| FROM AYN GAILEY ||| This action takes less than a minute to complete and is a simple way to show support for efforts to protect Southern Resident killer whales, salmon, and human health. If
Site work to begin at Pea Patch Community Campus
Ground Turning Event on January 24th ||| FROM SUZANNE OLSON for PEA PATCH COMMUNITY ||| The Pea Patch Community Campus is coming alive! San Juan County has issued preliminary plat approval with conditions. This means
The Pebble Ritual | Inside the secret cultural world of British Columbia’s killer whales
||| FROM A-Z ANIMALS ||| Southern killer whales must complete a 1,000-mile transport requirement to maintain specific pod social structures. The A5 pod designation complicates the tracking of regionally specific vocalization patterns within British Columbia.
The Exchange Update | January 2026
||| FROM ORCAS RECYCLING (THE EXCHANGE) ||| Composting: The Drive Continues At the end of 2025 we asked for your support for our efforts to get Community Scale Composting happening at the Exchange. We are
CWR Encounter #3 • Bigg’s Killer Whales
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 03:03 PM ObservEnd: 03:25 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Other Observers: George Hamilton Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T030A, T030B, T030B1, T030B2,
Decatur Island releases survey results
Survey administered by Decatur Island Alliance December 2025 ||| FROM DECATUR ISLAND ALLIANCE ||| Decatur Island Alliance, a 501c(3) non-profit registered in Washington state, was created in the first quarter of 2025 by a group of
Federal 12-Month Endangered Species Act finding for Olympic Peninsula steelhead
||| FROM EMMA HELVERSON for WILD FISH CONSERVANCY ||| Today, NOAA Fisheries issued its 12-month finding on the petition to list Olympic Peninsula steelhead under the Endangered Species Act acknowledging long-term population declines, reduced productivity,
Land Bank to hold monthly meeting on January 16
The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting Friday, January 16. The meeting is scheduled from 8:45am – 11:10am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available for in person
SJC Master Gardeners open 2026 Native Plant Sale for online ordering January 24
||| FROM VICKI LEIMBACK for SAN JUAN MASTER GARDENERS ||| Calling all nature lovers and garden enthusiasts! The eagerly awaited 2026 Native Plant Sale officially launches online at 8:00 AM on January 24, offering island
Seedy Saturday celebrates seed sharing and community traditions
||| FROM SAN JUAN ISLAND GRANGE ||| The San Juan Island Grange will host the Fourth Annual Seedy Saturday, Saturday, January 31, from 2-4pm, offering a free, community seed swap rooted in long-standing traditions of
CWR logs first encounter with K47
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 01:13 PM ObservEnd: 02:26 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Other Observers: George Hamilton Pods: K IDsEncountered: K14, K20, K27, K35, K36, K37,
Community meeting on Shaw to discuss future of public works road maintenance
There will be an opportunity for questions, answers, and a discussion. All are welcome to join online ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| To kick off the new year, San Juan County officials will
Center for Whale Research logs first encounter of the new year
Encounter #1 • Bigg's Killer Whales ||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 10:43 AM ObservEnd: 01:31 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Other Observers: George Hamilton Pods: Bigg's killer
Beached bird training sessions coming up
||| FROM COASTAL OBSERVATION AND SEABIRD SURVEY TEAM (COASST) |||
San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild announces $32,000 available for FARM fund grants
||| FROM JULIE BOTTJEN for SAN JUAN ISLANDS AGRICULTURAL GUILD ||| The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild Announces $32,000 Available for FARM Fund Grants. The application opens January 4, 2026! The San Juan Islands Agricultural
