||| FROM ELISE COPE for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS |||
On Friday, January 17, 38 contractors—excavators, general contractors, arborists, landscapers, and gardeners—from five different islands came together at the Mullis Center on San Juan Island for a Shore Friendly workshop hosted by Friends of the San Juans, in partnership with the Northwest Straits Foundation and the Washington State Shore Friendly Program. The free workshop focused on the ecological and practical aspects of shoreline work, covering topics from habitat and geology to permitting, drainage, and cultural resource protection.
Experts from various fields led engaging presentations. John Bornsworth, master arborist and owner of Peninsula Environmental Group, discussed shoreline tree care, vegetation enhancement, noxious weed management, and drainage methods. Tina Whitman, Science Director for Friends of the San Juans, provided insights into shoreline ecology and geology. Lisa Kaufman, Director of Programs for Northwest Straits Foundation, highlighted the impacts of shoreline armoring and introduced the Shore Friendly voluntary assistance program. Katherine Dietzman, Shoreline and Mapping Specialist at Friends, guided contractors through available technical and financial resources for shoreline projects.
Colin Maycock from the San Juan County Department of Community Development also joined to discuss local permitting requirements and answer questions on protecting vegetation. Rob Whitlam from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation shared valuable tips on safeguarding cultural resources during shoreline work.
At the first break, a local contractor remarked that he had already learned at least 20 new things, while another noted that collaboration is essential, and that the workshop hosted by Friends of the San Juans was a great example of this teamwork.
For over 20 years, Friends of the San Juans has been providing technical assistance to waterfront property owners and contractors in San Juan County, offering site visits with experts, planting plans, and drainage solutions. In priority areas where landowner interest exists, Friends has also developed and implemented habitat restoration projects. To date, Friends has secured $1.5 million in grant funding, supporting local implementation contractors and island economies. By 2025, Friends will surpass 500 site visits and restore over 1 mile of marine shoreline habitat.
“As 90% of San Juan County’s shorelines are privately owned, property owners and contractors are the first line of defense in protecting the sensitive marine ecosystems that sustain our island communities. Our Shore Friendly program empowers them to act as stewards of this shared environment,” says Katherine Dietzman.
The workshop, the first in a series, was made possible by funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Northwest Straits Foundation will continue hosting additional workshops for shoreline contractors across northern Puget Sound in 2025. “It was inspiring to see contractors come together with a shared goal: to deepen their understanding of the marine ecosystem, navigate local regulations, and implement best practices along our shorelines,” says Haley Sherman from Northwest Straits Foundation. “These contractors play a critical role as the first line of defense in protecting our coastal communities, and we are grateful for their dedication and commitment to sustainable shoreline management.”
Contractors can visit https://sanjuans.org/
Property owners can learn more about Shore Friendly resources at sanjuans.org/shore-friendly.
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