SJICD April 2026 Newsletter
- Julie Curtis
- Apr 17
- 5 min read
Spring has arrived in the San Juans, bringing longer days, fresh growth, and renewed energy. It’s the perfect moment to reflect on what we accomplished together in 2025 and look ahead to what’s next.
In this newsletter:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Explore our 2025 Annual Report
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Learn how to support pollinators during your spring cleaning
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Get updates from our Youth Conservation Corps
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Discover upcoming events, grants, and job opportunities
2025 Annual Report
We’re proud to share the SJICD 2025 Annual Report, a reflection of a year marked by growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact across the San Juan Islands.
Some highlights from 2025 include:
Planted 12,600+ native trees and shrubs to support salmon habitat
Restored nearshore ecosystems with 61,800 eelgrass seeds
Installed 19,000 feet of deer fencing to protect sensitive habitat
Updated San Juan County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan, supported $88,000 in wildfire mitigation funding and completed over 200 wildfire risk assessments to date
Helped farmers secure $185,000+ in infrastructure funding
Engaged over 50 youth in conservation projects across 48 project sites
Thinned 1,600+ trees from overstocked forests and completed 400+ biochar burn piles
Behind these numbers are strong partnerships with landowners, volunteers, tribes, and community members that make this work possible. Together, we are building a more resilient future for the islands.
We invite you to explore the full report and learn more about the projects, people, and progress shaping conservation in our community.
Before You "Spring Clean"...
Think about the pollinators! By waiting until late spring to rake leaves and remove debris from your yard, you’re giving overwintering pollinators a chance to remain protected while rainstorms and colder temperatures persist.
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Even though warm sunny days make it tempting to start tidying up the yard, the dried leaves, stems, and standing vegetation many consider yard “waste” are necessary habitat for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. While most native bees are ground-nesting, others rely on hollow stems, and butterfly chrysalises often attach to standing vegetation, stems, and leaves through winter. Â
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A good rule of thumb: wait until flowers are in full bloom and daytime temperatures are consistently in the upper fifties or sixties before cleaning up your lawn or yard for the year. Some pollinators don’t emerge well into May! A little bit of patience and consideration will help protect habitat for these important species that provide critical ecosystem services for people growing vegetables and fruit and for natural ecosystems in the islands.
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For more information, please see https://xerces.org/blog/dont-spring-into-garden-cleanup-too-soon.
Youth Conservation Corps: Growing the Next Generation of Environmental Stewards
Registration for the Summer Youth Conservation Corps Program is Open! Know a 12-18 year old? Summer applications are on our website at www.sanjuanislandscd.org/ycc. Spots fill fast! Â
This winter, our Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) wrapped up another successful partnership with Salish Sea Rescue (formerly, Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center), logging 240 hours of hands-on conservation work and environmental education.
Crew members supported habitat restoration, reduced wildfire risk on the property, learned about local wildlife, and built valuable teamwork and conservation skills in the process.
The YCC program continues to empower local youth through meaningful, place-based work—building the next generation of environmental stewards. Programs like this have engaged dozens of youth each season in conservation and education across the islands. Please consider donating to support the upcoming summer season.
Interested in joining a passionate fundraising team to support YCC? Simply reply to this email to get in touch with Communications Coordinator, Julie Curtis (Julie@sjicd.org), to learn more about our vision and how you can get involved.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
April 11: 2026 NW Forest Landowner Assistance Workshop, Padilla Bay Interpretive Center
Learn about Agency Assistance Programs for small forest landowners, current funding programs for forest management, and talk one on one with agency service foresters. Free workshop for local forest landowners. RSVP Required.
April 24 + May 2nd Pasture Walk Events to Learn about Pasture-Prairie Research
 Join SJICD’s Lead Pollinator Researcher, Walt Andrews, for Field Walks in collaboration with Lum Farm, Oak Knoll Farm, and San Juan County Conservation Land Bank. Learn how to add native plant diversity to your fields to support pollinator habitat while maintaining hay production. Hear key findings from the Hayland- Prairie Research project.
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Event details:
Lum Farm (Orcas Island): April 24th from 10- 11am
Zylstra Lake Preserve (San Juan Island): May 2nd from 1- 2pm Â
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RSVP by emailing Walt@sjicd.orgÂ
USDA Value Added Producer Grant - due April 22
(Re-post from the Ag Guild)
These grants support either: planning activities (e.g., feasibility studies, business and marketing plans) with grant amounts up to $50,000; or working capital needs (e.g., processing, packaging, advertising, inventory, and salaries) with grant amounts up to $200,000. Learn more and apply here.Â
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AgWest Farm Credit New Producer Grant – due May 31
(Re-post from the Ag Guild)
The New Producer Grant supports emerging agricultural producers by helping them expand or launch their operations through a one-time grant of $15,000. The program is designed for individuals with a clear vision for their agricultural business, are full or part-time producers with two years or less of experience (or plan to start in the next two years).  There is a lengthy application process, so be sure to check out all the details soon. Learn more here.
Forestry Funding Available
We’re excited to share that additional funding opportunities are becoming available for forest stewardship and wildfire resilience work across San Juan County. Landowners may be eligible for support with stewarding your land.  If you’ve been considering forestry work on your property and it would be a financial hardship to implement, now is a great time to connect with our team and explore cost-share opportunities. Read the guidelines to see if you’re eligible, then get in touch with Forestry Program Manager Cathi Winings (Cathi@sjicd.org).
We’re hiring!
An SJICD program, Islands Conservation Corps (ICC), is hiring four Restoration Specialists to support hands-on ecological restoration projects across San Juan County. Restoration Specialists work as part of a small, highly collaborative field crew under the guidance of ICC Field Supervisors and the Restoration Manager. Projects span both private and public lands and are funded through a combination of local, state, and federal programs. This position offers the opportunity to build technical skills in ecological restoration while refining approaches to maximize restoration outcomes within the unique conditions of the Washington Archipelago.
Thank you for your continued support of conservation and restoration efforts in the San Juan Islands. Please join our subscribers list to receive these newsletters directly to your email inbox.
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