Other News
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
MacKaye Harbor Shoreline Restoration Project Completed
Sep 13, 2022
By San Juan County
The beach has been restored and includes new public access.
SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. September 12, 2022 - San Juan County is proud to announce the completion of the MacKaye Harbor Shoreline Restoration Project on Lopez Island. After several weeks of removing old armor from the beach and spreading fresh sand and gravel, crews have officially cleared the site.
The road and dock are now open with a kayak-friendly public access to the county beach north of the boat launch and a restored sitting area. Next steps include developing an interpretive sign and planting native trees and shrubs. Design work for the sign will begin this fall with the hope of installation in a year. Planting will occur in February of 2023 with regular monitoring to ensure the new vegetation is established.
San Juan County would like to thank A1 Marine LLC, a San Juan Island-based marine construction company, and their crew for their diligent and timely work.
Project Significance:
In the 1960s, a road was built on the MacKaye Harbor beach to access a sand quarry where the present boat launch is now located. The road was never fully removed and armor from the road sat on the bank and beach, occupying the space where sand and gravel should be to provide spawning habitat for key feeder fish. Removing the old armor and restoring the beach to its former sandy habitat has been a long-awaited project. Starting in 2018, San Juan County’s Environmental Stewardship Department began plans for restoring the beach by removing boulders, nourishing the beach with a mix of sand and gravel, and promoting a healthy habitat that will benefit the Chinook salmon and ultimately the local Southern Resident Killer Whale population.
Why Now?
San Juan County received grant funding from the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration fund and the Estuary Salmon Restoration Program. Combined with matching funds from the County, the $270,150 project completed work on September 9, 2022.
Media Contact:
Byron Rot, Environmental Stewardship Project Manager, 360-550-1211, byronr@sanjuanco.com
About San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship:
San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship is responsible for solid waste, marine resources, clean water, cultural resources, and climate and sustainability work. The department offices are located at 915 Spring Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship, visit www.sanjuanco.com/839/Environmental-Stewardship.
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The road and dock are now open with a kayak-friendly public access to the county beach north of the boat launch and a restored sitting area. Next steps include developing an interpretive sign and planting native trees and shrubs. Design work for the sign will begin this fall with the hope of installation in a year. Planting will occur in February of 2023 with regular monitoring to ensure the new vegetation is established.
San Juan County would like to thank A1 Marine LLC, a San Juan Island-based marine construction company, and their crew for their diligent and timely work.
Project Significance:
In the 1960s, a road was built on the MacKaye Harbor beach to access a sand quarry where the present boat launch is now located. The road was never fully removed and armor from the road sat on the bank and beach, occupying the space where sand and gravel should be to provide spawning habitat for key feeder fish. Removing the old armor and restoring the beach to its former sandy habitat has been a long-awaited project. Starting in 2018, San Juan County’s Environmental Stewardship Department began plans for restoring the beach by removing boulders, nourishing the beach with a mix of sand and gravel, and promoting a healthy habitat that will benefit the Chinook salmon and ultimately the local Southern Resident Killer Whale population.
Why Now?
San Juan County received grant funding from the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration fund and the Estuary Salmon Restoration Program. Combined with matching funds from the County, the $270,150 project completed work on September 9, 2022.
Media Contact:
Byron Rot, Environmental Stewardship Project Manager, 360-550-1211, byronr@sanjuanco.com
About San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship:
San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship is responsible for solid waste, marine resources, clean water, cultural resources, and climate and sustainability work. The department offices are located at 915 Spring Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship, visit www.sanjuanco.com/839/Environmental-Stewardship.
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