This column is part of a series detailing San Juan County’s recent news. Follow along each month to learn about important County projects, Council initiatives, department updates, and more.
Protecting our Homes, Roads, and Habitat – Save The Date for Sea Level Rise Workshops this Fall
San Juan County is taking steps to better understand and plan for the future of sea level rise in the islands, including mitigating the impact to public and private infrastructure. The County is planning a series of community workshops to share information about sea level rise and solicit thoughts, concerns, and feedback from community members about how to address these challenges together. Learn more: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1989
Each of the four ferry-served islands will host two community workshops, facilitated by an external consultant specializing in community response to sea level rise. The first workshop will focus on the big picture, reviewing the science of sea level rise globally and locally. This science will include reviews of key studies done in San Juan County and how the County can expect to be affected in the next 20-50 years. The first workshop is scheduled as follows:
- San Juan Island: Monday, September 29, from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm; Marie Boe Building at the San Juan County Fairgrounds 849 Argyle Ave, Friday Harbor
- Lopez Island: Tuesday, September 30 from 5:00pm-7:00pm; The Lopez Island Grange, 452 Richardson Rd, Lopez Island
- Shaw Island: Wednesday, October 1 from 12:00pm-2:00pm; The Shaw Community Center, 42 Reef Net Bay Rd, Shaw Island
- Orcas Island: Wednesday, October 1 from 5:30pm-7:30pm; Orcas Island Grange Hall, 3398 Orcas Rd, Eastsound
Free Course for Friend and Family Caregivers on San Juan Island
San Juan County and Northwest Regional Council are offering a free six-week course for unpaid family and friend caregivers on San Juan Island. This course, Powerful Tools for Caregivers: Taking Care of You, is an evidenced-based, self-care educational program for family caregivers. Classes start Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Mullis Senior Center.
Classes start Oct. 2 and will be held every Thursday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Mullis Senior Center (589 Nash St., Friday Harbor, WA 98250). The class dates are Oct. 2, Oct. 9, Oct. 16, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, and Nov. 6.
Fall Back Together: Join the Great Islands Clean-Up on October 4th
This fall, the Great Islands Clean Up will take place on Saturday, October 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers will meet, choose a site, head out with provided gloves, bags, and pickers, and then return to the meeting point to see how much trash they removed. To find your island's meeting location, visit plasticfreesalishsea.org/events.
Now Available: Best Available Science & GAP Analysis for Critical Areas Ordinance Update
San Juan County is updating its critical areas protections, also referred to as the Critical Areas Ordinance or CAO. The Department of Community Development (DCD) is in the process of reviewing the Best Available Science supplement and the gap analysis – two pieces of information upon which the CAO is based. The public is encouraged to review the documents and provide feedback.
View the most recent best available science and GAP analysis on the project page: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/2026-critical-areas-ordinance-cao-update
No-Charge Noxious Weed Disposal Available Through Sept. 30
The San Juan County Noxious Weed Control Program works with the local transfer stations to accept noxious weed debris at no charge. The last day for free disposal will be September 30, 2025 – so don’t delay! Many islanders have been hard at work keeping invasive plants in check and using the free service all summer – thank you! While noxious weed disposal at SJC transfer stations will no longer be free after September 30, alternative disposal methods exist. See a list of resources here: https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/pdfs/Noxious_weed_disposal_2012-1.pdf
Learn more about the County’s recent news by visiting: sanjuancountywa.gov/1930/San-Juan-County-Newsroom
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