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
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
County now accepting Salmon Recovery project proposals
A one-page letter of intent is due February 13, 2026. Private residents, non-profit organizations, local, state, and tribal governments, and special districts are invited to apply. ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan
Early bird registration now open for 2026 San Juans Agricultural Summit
||| FROM REBECCA MOORE for SAN JUAN COUNTY EXTENSION ||| Early Bird Registration is now open for the 14th Annual San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit, taking place on Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28,
Planning for success in your home vegetable garden
||| FROM PERRI GIBBONS for ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Please join the Orcas Island Garden Club on Wednesday, January 21st, 2026, as we welcome Professor, Carol Miles. We are excited and grateful to have
OPAL purchases Crosswind Apartments
Another eight rentals affordable for households of moderate and middle incomes ||| FROM QASIM ALI DINO for OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ||| Eight more apartments on Orcas Island will become permanently affordable rentals with OPAL
Keeping what holds us | An Island Stewards reflection from the week of Solstice
||| FROM ISLAND STEWARDS ||| The week of the solstice arrives without settling. Weather moves back and forth. Forecast models disagree. Neighborhoods and infrastructure on the mainland are already damaged by flooding, while the possibility
