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
Volunteer positions open on county committees
Several key positions on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC), Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Clean Water Advisory Committee, Agricultural Resources Committee, and other boards are open. To see if one of the vacant positions is right for you view all board and committee vacancies here: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/641/Board-Committee-Vacancies. How to Apply Complete the application located on the County’s website: https://sanjuancountywa.gov/2287/Boards-and-Committee-Application. […]
Interactive Food System Plan now live on San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild website
By Caitlin Leck
Jennifer Swanson will represent all of San Juan County | Letter
Having served eight years on the San Juan County Council, the Ferry Advisory Committee, and spent 20+ years operating small businesses on Orcas Island, I know 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.
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 […]
County DEM posts survey about Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
San Juan County Department of Emergency Management (www.islandsready.org) is updating the County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, which outlines local natural hazard risks and identifies strategies to reduce their impacts. The current plan is available at: https://www.sanjuanco.com/DocumentCenter/View/21421/HazardMitigationPlan As part of this update, we’re asking San Juan County residents to complete a short survey. It takes about […]
From Orcas Island to the Florida campaign trail
Submitted by Ayn Gailey.
Board of Health approves 10 percent increase in environmental health fees
LWVSJ Observer Corps*: San Juan County Board of Health Oct 21, 2026 meeting. Community Collaboration Council: Approved funding for Safe San Juans ($20K); and San Juan Island Winter Shelter ($15K), with a full time shelter at the fairgrounds’ Marie Boe Building. Behavioral Health ASO: A temporary agreement will maintain the Intensive Treatment Act court operations […]
J35 gives birth to a male orca
Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 a new orca calf (named J65) was spotted travelling with J35. The birth brings the total population of the three pods that make up the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales to 76. Crews were able to get drone footage of the pair, and confirmed the new calf is male. “The team […]
Guest column: Katherine 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 […]
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
Burn permits now local on Orcas Island
Submitted by Orcas Island Fire & Rescue.
October 23: Join the SJPT and walk the Beecher Preserve on Lopez
Ward and Doris Beecher’s gift protects 35 acres of Lopez forest, and years of care from partners and volunteers are helping it grow healthier every season. Join Dean Dougherty, San Juan Preservation Trust Senior Director of Stewardship, on Friday, October 23, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm to see it up close. We still have […]
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 […]
Community comes together for Fall ‘Great Islands Cleanup’
Submitted by the San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship
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 […]