The San Juan
Islands: A Fading Paradise
By
Molly Skinner-Day
Background: The
San Juan Islands are an attractive paradise to people from all over the
world. The rich marine life, rolling
hills, cozy farmlands, rocky beaches, and unique flora and fauna draw tourists
by the millions each year. In the past
twenty years, the population has more than doubled, with 5% of that increase
coming in the last 5 years. There are
also plenty of part-time residents on many of the islands, who use is limited
to weekends or summers, which are not included in the most recent
consensus. It is currently estimated
that around 14,200 people live on the four main islands, San Juan, Orcas,
Lopez, and Shaw. The other islands are
reachable only by private boat or plane, and not by Washington State
ferries. This vast population has been
incredibly hash on the islands’ limited resources, such as water, forest, land,
and public facilities.
Climate: Much of the
special allure of the San Juan Islands comes from a climate that is largely
drier and sunnier than the rest of Western Washington. The Olympic mountain range in the south and
the Cascade Range to the east form a “rain shadow” over the islands and the
northern Olympic peninsula. The islands
are therefore protected from ocean storms.
The warmer air that rises off the mountains and often brings rain
usually wears itself out long before it reaches the islands. The drier climate makes the San Juan Islands
home to several warm-weather plants not commonly fount West of the Cascades,
such as a rare prickly pear cactus.
Some issues currently facing
the islands:
Water shortages- Due to the lack of rainfall on the islands, there is normally barely enough water to go around to all the residents of the islands. Many of the small parks and islands have no water service at all, and some wells and catch basins on the larger islands run dry by mid-summer.
Fire- The increased fire danger of the summer months goes
hand in hand with the water shortages often experienced then. By summertime, the prairies and forests
become very dry, and if campers do not pay special attention, the fire will
spread to quickly to be stopped.
Water
Quality- With the population
increase come many different ideas on land use. The population of the islands is diverse in economical background
and profession, and farming is still one of the main industries. Many farms spill irrigation run off directly
into the ocean. The chemical fertilizers
that are used in farms are therefore fed directly to the system. Phosphates in fertilizers are a direct cause
of red tide and other dangerous alga growth increases.
Lesson objective: To provide students with background
information about the islands to help them understand the importance of
preserving the San Juans for the future.
Activity: Values Continuum-
Please think about environmental issues (relating to the San Juans and the
Puget Sound) that interest you. This is
all you need to do… for now.
Bibliography:
Mueler, Ted &
Marge. The San Juan Islands: Afoot and
Afloat
Seattle Mountaineers Club;
Seattle, WA 1995
San Juan Islander: San Juan
Preservation Trust;
http://www.sanjuanislander.com/groups/san_juan_preservation_trust/trust-stories.html
Online; World Wide Web,
April, 2002
San Juan Islands Natural
Areas Project;
http://www.rockisland.com/~taichi/natural/project.html
Online; World Wide Web;
April, 2002
San Juan Preservation Trust;
http://www.sypt.org/
Online; World Wide Web;
April 2002
Atkinson, Scott &
Sharpe, Fred; Wild Plants of the San Juan Islands
The Mountaineers, Seattle;
1986