Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
The Creeks Beneath the Fields | Part 1 of 5
First of a five part journalism series by the San Juan Islands Conservation District on steams and wetlands in the islands, and what people can do to restore them On summer mornings in the San Juan Islands, the freshwater world can feel almost imaginary. Streams are often hidden behind pastures or culverts, wetlands tucked into folds of land that most people drive past without noticing. The islands appear governed by stone, saltwater light, Garr
Wild Fish Conservancy serves notice of intent to sue over Alaska fisheries catching threatened, endangered Pacific Northwest Chinook without federal oversight
SEATTLE, Washington—Nearly nine out of ten Chinook salmon caught in commercial fisheries along the South Alaska Peninsula in 2024 and 2025 originated outside Alaska, according to research from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Yet these fisheries operate without federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) oversight of their impacts on threatened and endangered Pacific Northwest Chinook, even as communities where these fish return face
CWR encounter with J Pod
Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 12:06 PM ObservEnd: 01:41 PM Vessel: Mike 1 Staff: Mark Malleson Pods: J IDsEncountered: J27, J31, J39, J56 LocationDescr: Sombrio Point EncSummary: Mark left Victoria on Mike 1 at 0830 and headed west out on the Juan de Fuca Strait, favouring the Vancouver Island shoreline. He came across a large aggregation of humpbacks near Sombrio Point and spent close to an hour collecting tail fluke identification photographs of them
Multiple county advisory board & committee seats open
Key positions on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Clean Water Advisory Committee, Agricultural Resources Committee, and other boards are open San Juan County is seeking volunteers to serve on various boards and committees that help shape daily life in the San Juan Islands. Key positions on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC), Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Clean Water Advisory Committee, Agricultural Resources
Orcas Island Clothing Bank draws about 400 over two days
The Orcas Island Clothing Bank welcomed approximately 400 people over two days Oct. 24-25, offering community members an opportunity to find clothing and other household items while giving gently used goods a second life. The event was held at the Orcas Christian School (OCS) gymnasium, continuing a tradition that began in 1994 at the Odd Fellows Hall in town before later moving to the school. Organizers estimated that more than 3,500 pounds of gently […]
Letter to Editor | I’m voting for our future
I am 21 years old, raised on Lopez. I moved back while pregnant and have been living here since with my fiancé and daughter who is now 9 months old. I’ve known Katherine since I was little and have seen how she’s always been there for her community. I feel very aligned with how invested she is in the health of our special island environment as someone who hopes to raise children here. I also […]
The Pacific Salmon Treaty isn’t working for salmon, orcas, or salmon-dependent communities, coastwide movement tells US and Canadian leaders
As the Pacific Salmon Commission discusses the treaty’s future behind closed doors, salmon advocates rally in Sequim and call on both countries to Let Our Salmon Come Home SEQUIM, Washington—Salmon advocates from across the coast rallied in Sequim, where the Pacific Salmon Commission is meeting as the United States and Canada negotiate the future of the Pacific Salmon Treaty—an international agreement governing marine fisheries that intercep
Letter to Editor | Katherine Bryant Ingman on environment, conservation
Protecting the environment is essential to preserving San Juan County’s way of life, economy, and natural beauty. Clean water, healthy forests, productive farmland, thriving marine ecosystems, and access to our shorelines are central to what makes these islands such a special place to live, work, and raise a family. One of my top priorities is protecting our finite water resources. As island communities, we depend on healthy aquifers, lake
Questions about San Juan County’s new Generative AI Use Policy
San Juan County has adopted a policy governing the use of generative AI by County employees. It lists approved AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot, Claude, Grammarly, and Canva, and also includes tools such as Verkada security cameras with facial recognition and KnowBe4 AIDA that could be used for profiling. Residents deserve to understand what this policy means in practice. Here are some questions to ask our candidates, County Council members, and other elected o
Washington, Denmark establish formal ties around maritime and industrial expertise
SEATTLE — Governor Bob Ferguson and Ambassador Karen Eva Abrahamsen, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Denmark in the United States established a new era in trade and partnership between Washington and Denmark with the signing of the first cooperative agreement between the two regions. Photos from the event are available here. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between the State of Washington and the Royal Danish Embassy to ad
News Brief | One-quarter of data centers are located in water-stressed areas, study shows
Data centers need water to stay cool and functional, and lots of it: The larger facilities can consume as much water a day as a town of 50,000 people, and because much of the cooling involves evaporation, freshwater is often preferred. That raises serious questions about the environmental impact of the cloud compute we use to run AI queries, host photos and videos, stream music, and all the rest. Researchers are trying to get a […]
Update on Orcas School drinking water
Improvements Continue Our commitment to improving school drinking water continues through our partnership with the Washington State Department of Health. Fixtures replaced The district replaced fixtures identified for corrective action. Follow-up testing has returned those meeting the state’s lead-testing threshold to normal service. Filtration underway The next phase of improvements is in progress, with elementary school fixtures prioritized f
CWR encounters new baby orca
The Center for Whale Research is happy to report that a new calf has been born in the Southern Resident killer whale population. On October 19, 2026, CWR researchers observed a very young whale traveling with J35. The calf, designated J65, is very young, less than a week old based on its appearance and J35’s previous sightings. CWR researchers again encountered the calf the next day, still traveling with J35. The team was […]
Letter to the Editor | Decatur’s open-space decision deserves countywide attention
San Juan County’s October 1 approval relocating recorded open space for OPALCO’s proposed Decatur solar expansion raises questions that matter throughout our islands. The County acknowledges that portions of the replacement open space overlap land already protected by a Native Growth Area covenant. It maintains that those protections remain enforceable and that the revised configuration meets conservation requirements. County explanation But maintaining a perce
Letter to Editor | Jennifer Swanson will represent all of San Juan County
Having served eight years on the San Juan County Council, participated in the Ferry Advisory Committee, and spent much of my life operating small businesses on Orcas Island, I know firsthand the challenges of representing our island communities. That experience is why I am proud to support Jennifer Swanson for San Juan County Council, District 3. Jennifer brings something especially valuable to public service: kindness, honesty, independence, and a genuine willingness t
Letter to Editor | Homes we can afford, islands we must protect
Two of my four priorities as a candidate, affordable housing and protecting our environment, are really about the same thing: keeping these islands a healthy, desirable and affordable place where people can live, work and thrive for generations. Expanding access to the full spectrum of affordable housing starts with the people already doing the work. We have experienced housing experts and non-profits on each of our major islands, along with the Home Fund, a targete
Governor Ferguson sends video to Trump Administration to support Washington’s request for wildfire assistance
OLYMPIA – To support Washington’s request for federal assistance following this summer’s devastating wildfires, Governor Bob Ferguson is sending a video to the Trump Administration to help show the severity of the damage. The video is available for download here, and features interviews with impacted residents, and bipartisan leaders calling on the federal government to approve Washington’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration. The Governor’s
Letter to Editor | Questions every OPALCO member should ask
Whether we live on Shaw, Orcas, Lopez, San Juan, or an outer island, we share an interest in OPALCO’s spending, reliable electricity, and accountable decisions. The proposed Decatur solar expansion raises questions that belong to every cooperative member. What will members pay over the project’s life, and what purchased-power costs will it actually avoid? OPALCO should publish an independent financial review, including financing, maintenance, equipment replacem
Land Bank October 2026 meeting and agenda
The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting October 16. The meeting is scheduled from 8:45am – 11:10am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available for in person public attendance at the Mullis Community Senior Center, located at 589 Nash Street, Friday Harbor, WA. The public is invited to attend. Click HERE to download the agenda (includes Zoom meeting link) and meeting materials.
NEWS BRIEF | Hostile Waters: Orcas in peril
The Seattle Times will continue to explore and expose the plight of the southern resident killer whales, among the most-enduring symbols of our region. We’ll examine the role we have played in their decline, what we can do about it and why it matters. FOLLOW STORY
There’s always something happening at the Exchange
Let’s Shred! The Exchange has partnered with Bellingham-based A-1 Shredding to offer secure document destruction. Customers can drop off documents in secure, locked bins located at The Exchange. A-1 Shredding will periodically bring its mobile shredding truck to Orcas Island to destroy the collected materials. The shredded paper will be transported to the mainland to be turned into new paper products. Learn More The GICU is About More Than Garbage This y
Community comes together for fall ‘Great Islands Cleanup’
Islanders carry on the legacy of caring by clearing over 2,000 pounds of waste from our beaches Across the San Juan Islands this fall, community members came together to clean beaches, shorelines, roadsides, and favorite island places as part of the bi-annual Great Islands Cleanup. The fall cleanup brought volunteers together around a simple idea: caring for these islands is a legacy worth continuing. This year’s theme of ‘Caring for Our Island Home’ [
Native pollinator presentation by Russel Barsh coming to Orcas Library
More than 200 wild bees and flies are native to the San Juan Islands, but many are threatened by pesticides, loss of nesting habitat, competition with introduced non-native bee species, and the spread of parasitic flies, mites, and viruses. Learn to identify, protect, and provide appropriate habitat for the most important native pollinators of island gardens and wildlands, including bumblebees, wild solitary bees, and hover flies, from Kwiah
Register now for Annual Garden Workshop Series
Garden enthusiasts throughout the region are encouraged to register now for the 2026 Garden Workshop Series presented by the San Juan County WSU Extension Master Gardeners and San Juan County Master Gardener Foundation. Registration closes Thursday, October 15. Held over two weeks in October, this popular annual series will be offered as live Zoom webinars, allowing participants to enjoy presentations from the comfort of home. The ser