SJICD September 2026 Newsletter
September already!? The San Juan Islands Conservation District has timely news to share, including:
A current conservation focus: wildfire preparedness and water conservation
Sign up for a FREE Wildfire Ready Neighbor visit with our experts
Fun new programs from the Youth Conservation Corps – now recruiting members!
Meet our new staff
We’re hiring – SJICD is looking for a bookkeeper
Volunteer opportunities and upcoming events
On Our Minds: Fire & Water
As we move into September, cooler mornings can make it feel like summer is nearing the end, but dry conditions can linger well into early fall. That makes wildfire prevention and water conservation especially important this time of year.
Washington is currently under a statewide wildfire emergency, declared on August 1 due to drought, unusually high temperatures, winds, and an active fire season. Continue to monitor the San Juan County Fire Marshal webpage, use caution with anything that could create a spark near dry vegetation, and never park a vehicle or other hot equipment over dry grass.
Washington also declared a statewide drought emergency in April, so it’s also a good time to be thoughtful about water use. We are hearing from HOAs around the islands that some wells cannot keep up with demand. Water is a shared and limited island resource, and small changes across our community can make a meaningful difference.
Water gardens deeply and less frequently to encourage strong root systems, and water during the cool morning or evening hours to reduce evaporation. Small changes at the home can help, too: shorter showers, using a dish tub, and being mindful of everyday water use all add up.
Own a bigger pasture? Check out our no-till drill rental program to keep more water and carbon in the soil than with conventional tilling!
A few simple choices can help protect our landscapes, conserve water, and support our island communities as we transition from summer to fall.
Is Your Home Wildfire Ready?
We are moving into our third year of offering FREE Wildfire Ready home assessments to homeowners and renters throughout San Juan County.
The assessments typically take one to two hours, depending on your property size and interests. During the visit, we’ll walk the 100-foot zone surrounding your home, identify potential wildfire risks, and provide a written report with clear, prioritized recommendations.
Research shows that simple changes can make a big difference in how well a home withstands wildfire. These changes can be as straightforward as removing a flammable coconut fiber doormat or moving your winter wood pile farther away from the house.
To schedule a visit, get in touch with our Forestry Program Manager Cathi Winings (Cathi@sjicd.org).
Thank You for Supporting the Next Generation of Stewards!
We want to thank everyone who donated, big or small, to our Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program during the SJI Cares County Fair campaign with the San Juan Island Community Foundation. We raised over $3,000 that will go directly to crew member stipends and supervision during the YCC Winter Program.
More than a dollar amount, we heard something important from our community: this is a program worth protecting.
Whether at our SJICD fair booth, on social media, or standing in line at the grocery store, you told us that YCC matters. You want to continue uplifting and supporting the next generation, while caring for our natural systems at the same time. Maybe you saw our San Juan Island crew working hard to divert 1,000 pounds (!!) of waste at the Fair, decked out in their green “Trash Talker” shirts. We hope seeing these young people at work gives you the same sense of hope for the future of our islands that they give us.
Unlike many of SJICD’s grant-funded programs, YCC relies heavily on community support. If you’re able to donate to help keep this program running at no-cost to families, we deeply appreciate it. Donations go directly toward getting local youth into the field, where they build trails, remove invasive weeds, care for island ecosystems, and learn from brilliant local educators and mentors along the way.
Winter Youth Conservation Corps: Now Recruiting!
We’re recruiting crew members aged 12-17 to be part of our YCC Winter Program!
The program will run on 10 Saturdays from September ‘26 through May ‘27. Crew members earn daily stipends for their work, gain access to some incredible protected lands many islanders never get to see, and learn from our partners at Salish Wildlife Rescue, the Bureau of Land Management, and the San Juan Preservation Trust.
Space is limited! Share this opportunity with a young person in your life and encourage them to apply soon. Deadline has been extended to 9/20!
Meet Our New Staff
We are thrilled to welcome new staff to our team! Since the start of the year, we’ve hired a new Finance Manager, Operations Manager, Programs Director, and four Restoration Specialists who make up our Islands Conservation Corps crew.
Our new Finance and Operations Managers, Vicky Lewin and Heidi White, respectively, are stepping in for our soon-to-be-retired Finance Manager, Tony Fyrqvist, who has been instrumental in keeping the CD operational over the past five years.
Our new Programs Director, Adam Martin, started in August and oversees our natural resource planning team while bringing additional support and expertise to all programs across the district.
A great crew of Islands Conservation Corps (ICC) crew members -and our final AmeriCorps crew- departed in June. On September 1, we welcomed four new Restoration Specialist to make up the ICC crew: Genevieve Gislason, Lucas Sherman, June Haselton, and Ana Henry. These hires mark an important milestone in ICC’s transition from a primarily AmeriCorps-based program to a year-round, staff-based restoration crew.
We’re fortunate to have these highly qualified professionals on the SJICD team and look forward to seeing how this growth strengthens our work in support of our community and its natural resources.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
Farm Tours of the San Juans: Coming soon!
Celebrate local food and farming this fall at the annual Farm Tours of the San Juans! Farm Tours are the islands’ best opportunity to explore working farms, meet island farmers, enjoy farm-to-table tastings, and participate in hands-on demos. Most activities are free and family friendly.
New this year, Farm Tours will start one weekend earlier, kicking off on Lopez Island on September 18th. Come enjoy the late-summer sunshine, delicious local foods, and celebrate the incredible farms and agricultural community that make the San Juans so special.
Mark your calendars:
Lopez Island: September 18- 20
San Juan Island: September 25- 27
Orcas Island: October 2-4
For the full schedule, participating farms, and event details, visit the Farm Tours webpage: www.farmtourssanjuans.com.
We’re hiring!
Are you a number cruncher that’s excited about conservation? We are hiring a bookkeeper to join our team and help us keep pace with all the good work getting done. This is a part-time position at 20 hours per week, with great benefits included.
Help Us Explore Climate Adaptation Using Garry Oaks
Washington State University is looking for volunteers to participate in a climate adaptation study focused on Garry oak. As summers become longer and hotter, should we be planting more Garry oaks? And could trees grown from Oregon seed be better adapted to future conditions than those from Washington? Researchers are interested in piloting a small planting using Garry oak acorns collected in Oregon and Washington. The research team is also exploring a Garry oak acorn seed exchange. Do you have Garry oaks on your property? Are you interested in collecting acorns or participating in the planting study? Contact Cathi@sjicd.org to learn more.
September 26: Volunteer Day with SJICD- Seagrass Stroll
10:30am- 12pm, Jackson Beach, San Juan Island
We are inviting community members of all ages to join us on the beach this Fall for our new Seagrass Strolls to collect and transplant healthy, storm-cast eelgrass shoots. It's a simple, hands-on way to restore our shoreline ecosystems and protect the vital species that depend on them. Our next walk is at Jackson Beach on Saturday, September 26th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (buckets and gloves are provided!). RSVP or ask about more upcoming fall walks to sage@sjicd.org and follow along as we post volunteer needs on social media (IG: sanjuanislandscd, FB: San Juan Islands Conservation District).
November 4: Agroforestry Design: Farm Assessment and Site Plan
9am- 3pm, San Juan Island
Join us for an in-person event in Friday Harbor all about agroforestry design in the San Juan Islands! We'll dive into how to blend native and non-native trees to create thriving, sustainable landscapes in three different types of agroforestry systems. This event is geared towards students, planning professionals, and producers looking to implement agroforestry design plans on working farms. Cost ranges from $15- $60.
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