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Join us out on the land!
The San Juan Preservation Trust works with our local communities and people like you to permanently conserve and care for special places throughout the San Juan Islands.
During his latest visit to Vendovi Island, SJPT Director of Stewardship Dean Dougherty made an exciting low-tide observation—several dozen ochre sea stars and leather sea stars were nestled into exposed rock crevices.
This is a special sign for the San Juans!
In 2013, sea star wasting syndrome spread through the PNW, causing the largest observed die-off of marine animals in recorded history. Seeing sea stars on Vendovi in such large numbers brings hope to the rising tide.
In the intertidal zone, sea stars are champions at eating muscles and barnacles. This special diet creates vital space for both seaweed growth and the diverse species that rely on that seaweed for food and shelter. In fact, scientists in the 1960s observed this ochre sea star behavior and coined the term “keystone species”—an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. The San Juan Islands are home to several keystone species, including our beloved Garry oak trees!
Have you seen any sea stars in your intertidal explorations? We’d love to hear about it!
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🎉 Upcoming Event Alert! 🎉
Join us for the first stewardship event of the year at the Graham Preserve on Shaw Island, a family-friendly forested preserve on the southeast side of the island!
On Friday, September 6, from 10am to 2pm, SJPT invites you and anybody else you know who may be interested in joining for some late summer trail maintenance to get this property looking spiffy for the end of the season and before more blustery weather blows in.
A trail is always much more pleasurable to traverse when it's been shown some care and attention, and that's just what we plan to do at this lovely 99-acre preserve.
We hope you can join the work party!
Please visit our Upcoming Events webpage (sjpt.org/calendar) to learn more and register.
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#salishsea
#conservation
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#summer
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#volunteer
#community
#shawisland
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Growth at the Graham Grove!
Last week, the Orcas Island Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) made their way over to Shaw Island to support the work being done at Graham Grove.
The grove was started by elementary students from Shaw Island School in 2021, when they planted Garry oak seedlings alongside other oak prairie plants. The saplings have grown large enough that they now need more space in their protective, anti-deer browsing cages.
YCC participants started the morning learning about how Garry oaks are a keystone species—one that other species in an environment rely on for survival. They then set out to expand the cages, remove unwanted competing plants, and water the saplings with slow, caring intention. Some teens even went above and beyond to experience the oak’s perspective by working from within the deer cages.
Shaw Island School students still tend to the oaks twice a year and pass on stewardship responsibilities to younger students as they reach older grades.
The San Juan Preservation Trust, Shaw Island School students, and the oaks appreciate YCC for being a part of this legacy!
#sjpt
#sanjuanpreservationtrust
#sji
#sanjuanislands
#salishsea
#conservation
#getoutside
#conserve
#connect
#care
#youth
#community
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