San Juan Preservation Trust

San Juan Preservation Trust The Preservation Trust is a nonprofit land conservation organization based in the San Juan archipelago in Washington State. Conservation Land Trust.

On Coast Salish land.

šŸ“¢ BLUEBIRD BOOM ALERT šŸ“¢ This spring marked the 20th season of the Western Bluebird reintroduction project, and it was on...
08/24/2026

šŸ“¢ BLUEBIRD BOOM ALERT šŸ“¢

This spring marked the 20th season of the Western Bluebird reintroduction project, and it was one for the books!

šŸ”37 adults returned to occupy 17 (the most ever!) local territories. 5 individuals came all the way from Cowichan Valley and 1 from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM)!

šŸ£93 young were fledged, 25% more than 2025

šŸŽ“69% of nests were successful and we saw the highest number of nesting attempts since the project began

HUGE thank you to our stellar volunteers and to Kathleen (our Director of Stewardship) for her 20 years (and counting!) of commitment to these birds.ā 
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We canā€™t wait to see what season 21 brings next Spring!

Dragons and Griffins...as flies?! Oh my!This month's Walk & Talk took us to Lopez Island and into the fascinating world ...
08/22/2026

Dragons and Griffins...as flies?! Oh my!

This month's Walk & Talk took us to Lopez Island and into the fascinating world of dragonfliesā€”and their ancient Carboniferous cousins, the griffinflies!

Dragonflies depend on healthy freshwater systems throughout a key part of their life cycle. Adults lay eggs in or along the water, where they hatch into aquatic nymphs. These tiny predators feast on other invertebrates as they grow.

Then comes the incredible transformation: the nymph crawls to the waterā€™s edge, attaches itself to vegetation or a log, and literally bursts out of its exoskeleton. Its four wings unfold, dry, and off it flies!

Thatā€™s why healthy waterways matter. Low dissolved oxygen, algae blooms, and unfiltered runoff from a lack of riparian buffersā€”meaning areas of vegetation adjacent to streams, rivers, or wetlandsā€”can disrupt dragonfly habitat.

Healthy wetlands = healthy water + healthy dragonflies.

Who knew these flying ā€œdragonsā€ had such an important connection to our waterways?

Attention boaters and outdoor adventurers!Vendovi Island is wrapping up the season a little early this year as we get to...
08/21/2026

Attention boaters and outdoor adventurers!

Vendovi Island is wrapping up the season a little early this year as we get to work rebuilding the breakwater starting this September.

Last call for a visit: August 31

Weā€™ll miss seeing you out on the island, but weā€™re excited for whatā€™s ahead! We look forward to welcoming you back in April 2027ā€”and seeing you around the corner of our newly improved breakwater.

Want to help make the new breakwater a reality? You can still support SJPTā€™s breakwater project by making a donation as construction gets underway. To make a gift, visit sjpt.org/breakwater

Until then, happy exploring, and weā€™ll see you on the water!

08/21/2026

We don't do clubs. We do work parties."šŸŒæā›ļø

Happy National Nonprofit Day!Did you know? The San Juan Preservation Trust protects more than 19,000 acres across 22 isl...
08/18/2026

Happy National Nonprofit Day!

Did you know? The San Juan Preservation Trust protects more than 19,000 acres across 22 islands!

As one of the largest 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the San Juan Islands, our work is possible because our supporters believe in conserving the lands and waters that sustain our communities.

Together we are building a future with healthy forests and shorelines, clean water, and thriving communities. Thank you!

08/16/2026

In this Just a Minute, Liz highlights Leave No Trace Principle #2: Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces.

Liz breaks down why something as simple as staying on the trail matters more than you'd think. šŸ„¾

It doesn't take much to disturb a nest you never saw coming. Sticking to durable, established trails is the easiest way to protect ground nesting birds, fragile plants, and everything else living just off the path.

Watch Liz explain more. šŸ‘‡

2,600 feet of fencing are protecting Red Mill Farm and the Salish Sea.Partnering with Islands Conservation Corps, we rec...
08/13/2026

2,600 feet of fencing are protecting Red Mill Farm and the Salish Sea.

Partnering with Islands Conservation Corps, we recently installed fencing at Red Mill Farm Preserve to keep cattle from contaminating San Juan Creekā€”a critical freshwater source that feeds into False Bay.

The creek's bacteria levels have caught the state's attention. From here, the water flows into False Bay, then out to the Salish Sea.

It's a simple boundary that keeps bacteria out of our watersheds for local agriculture and marine life alike.

A buffer zone will filter runoff before it reaches the water, and soon we'll plant it out to bring back the biodiversity this land used to hold.

08/12/2026

Every summer, we welcome youth from the San Juan Islands Conservation District's Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) to join us on our preserves.

Yes, we put them to work. We also teach them a thing or two about stewardship.

Here, at our Ihiya Preserve on San Juan Island, these kids are watering young plants that some of them planted themselves last year. For many, YCC is their first job: a paid, hands-on introduction to conservation work that's a real antidote to screen time. They explore our public lands and build a sense of place for their island home.ā 
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Our hope? That they carry forward a passion for stewardship into adulthood.ā 

We're proud to partner with the San Juan Islands Conservation District. Educating and investing in tomorrow's stewards ensures this work continues long after we're gone.

08/10/2026

700 acres, one creek, and a fence line that's rewriting what flows downstream.ā 
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Red Mill Farm is a working cattle ranch that sits right along San Juan Creek, which flows into False Bay and out to the Salish Sea.ā 
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And the Creek has a bacteria problem.ā 
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So, we're building fence to keep cattle out of the Creek, create a buffer area, and protect the water system for the salmonids and organisms using this Creek and the Greater Salish Sea. ā Eventually, we'll plant the buffer to promote biodiversity.ā 
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Proof that working land and restoration can coexist.

Smiles all around at our Turtleback Celebration Summer Social at Coffelt Farm this past Saturday! So many people to than...
07/30/2026

Smiles all around at our Turtleback Celebration Summer Social at Coffelt Farm this past Saturday! So many people to thank for making it happen:

Steve Alboucq for capturing these moments in photos.
Amy and Eric Lum for hosting us at Coffelt Farm Preserve
KIXP for recording live Turtleback Tales.
Gene Nery and Olga Symphony Lite for the music.
Goat & Co. for the delicious spread.
Orcas Events for the tents and chairs.
Matthew Van Dyk and Flora Vaught for joining us to receive [specify: grant/scholarship/award] checks.
San Juan County Conservation Land Bank for coming, for speaking, and for the incredible partnership over the years

And thank YOU ā€” whether this was your first SJPT event or you've been with us since the Turtleback campaign 20 years ago, it was wonderful to spend the afternoon together.

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Friday Harbor, WA
98250

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