What is along the shoreline here in the San Juans? A ferry rider might answer this by describing the idyllic homes, forested hills, rocky bluffs and sandy beaches. But a scientist will see things differently.

A natural shoreline is a mix of rocky shores, pocket beaches, forested slopes, muddy bays, long sandy shores, towering bluffs and more. A healthy shoreline provides critical habitat for many plants and animals. Gravelly beaches provide habitat for small fish that are food for salmon, which in turn are food for orca whales and us, too. As sandy bluffs erode they provide sand that replenishes beaches. Forested shores provide shade and habitat critical for insects (that feed fish) and other species. And the tree roots help control erosion and purify freshwater before it reaches the sensitive marine environment.

When our shorelines are modified with docks, bulkheads, ramps, non-native landscaping etc., the natural processes that provide these environmental benefits are altered. For instance, a poorly designed bulkhead built to reduce property erosion may have the unintended consequence of increasing erosion on nearby property or allowing the gravelly beaches so important as fish habitat to be washed away. Docks can shade eelgrass, which then reduces herring habitat, and creosote can leach toxics that can harm herring eggs and larvae and shellfish. Clear cut slopes can increase the deposition of sediment into the waters and cover fish spawning habitat. On the other hand, well-designed and built shoreline modifications can both provide for our needs and minimize impacts on the environment.

To help to better understand the quality of the shoreline in San Juan County, a state PSAR (Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration) salmon recovery grant is funding a shoreline modification inventory being conducted by the Friends of the San Juans. The results of the survey will be used to prioritize restoration projects and to help with overall shoreline planning for the future.  The surveyors have already identified many derelict and unused structures. These provide significant opportunities for restoration to improve wildlife habitat.

The survey, of literally every mile of shoreline in San Juan County, is being conducted via boat, and it couldn’t be done without the help of some very talented volunteers.

The inventory process goes something like this: Three people work together in a 16 foot skiff. The project leader, Jim Slocomb, masters the GPS and computer to accurately record the condition of the shoreline, including the size and location of any modifications. A trained volunteer takes photos and keeps a paper-based record (just in case the fancy technology fails). Perhaps the most important person is the volunteer piloting the boat, keeping watch on the water and providing a stable platform for the work.  Back at the office, the field maps and data are compiled and linked to site photographs. The volunteers for this project are folks who have worked on earlier Friends projects (such as their forage fish project for which they had over 100 volunteers) as well as WSU Beachwatcher program graduates.  The Volunteers include Chuck Rust (who often pilots the boat), Craig Green, Mary Masters, John Aschoff and Rick Exstrom.

Joining the volunteers are two science interns working with the Friends this year: Tiffany Stephens, studying at the University of Washington and Samantha Palace, studying at Clark University.

Volunteers are critical to the success of the project. There are two volunteers for every paid staff person and, just about halfway through the survey, they have logged over 200 hours.

Why would someone volunteer to spend long hours, often in cool, windy and rainy weather out in a little 16 foot skiff?

Riding the ferry home at the end of one of those chilly days, John Aschoff shook off the cold and reflected on why he and the others spend their spare time at this. He explained that the people working on this project say that it’s amazing to see every mile of shoreline, cool to learn a lot about both the natural and human environment here, learn GIS technology and quite rewarding to participate in real science. Ah, but a sunny day or two might be nice.