living with the shoreline A Stewardship Guide for San Juan County Property Owners

Transcription

1 living with the shoreline A Stewardship Guide for San Juan County Property Owners

2 living with the shoreline A Stewardship Guide for San Juan County Property Owners The San Juan Islands and the Northwest Straits marine ecosystem is a visual and natural treasure of international significance. Ours is a one-of-a-kind place on the planet with over seven million people living nearby. This population is putting enormous pressure on the San Juans for housing, infrastructure, and recreation. If under-managed, the pressure will ultimately overwhelm the seas, shorelines, forests, farmlands, and wildlife that make the San Juans what they are today. As a property owner, you play an important role in the stewardship of this unique environment. Friends of the San Juans developed this guidebook to provide information on local shoreline conditions and resources for landowners. For more information, please contact FRIENDS of the San Juans at (360) or visit

3 shorelines make us who we are San Juan County landowners, residents and visitors share the unique benefits and responsibilities of more miles of shoreline than any other county in the continental United States. With just 175 square miles of land area and over 400 linear miles of shoreline, what happens on the land almost always directly impacts the marine environment, particularly the nearshore, or shoreline, habitat. Located at the juncture of Puget Sound, Georgia Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juan Island Archipelago provides critical feeding, resting and migratory habitat to a huge range of species including threatened salmon and orca. Declines in these valuable species have brought much needed attention to local shorelines. What we have in the San Juans is special - but continued research, education and stewardship will be required to ensure long-term protection Jennifer L. Rigg

4 what are forage fish? What is your favorite San Juan outdoor activity? Viewing majestic Orca and Minke whales? Fishing for salmon or lingcod? Feasting on Dungeness crab? Watching birds? Walking on the beach? Each of these activities can provide us with a strong sense of place in the San Juans. And each is directly related to the health of forage fish and the nearshore marine environments that support them. Forage fish are the small fish that larger fish eat. Locally our primary forage fish are Pacific herring, surf smelt and Pacific sand lance. Research in nearby Georgia Strait shows that between 50% and 75% of the diets of Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, lingcod, and halibut caught consist of forage fish. While Minke whales eat huge portions of forage fish directly, Orcas depend on small fishes to fatten the salmon they consume. including marbled murrelets and rhinoceros auklets, feed directly on forage fish; surf scoters dive underwater for herring eggs that are incubating on eelgrass and other submerged vegetation. The nearshore also includes the upper regions of sandy beaches that provide a safe location for surf smelt and Pacific sand lance to spawn and incubate their eggs. When these eggs hatch, the tiny larval fish float out with the tide to become part of the food chain. Surf smelt and sand lance spawn in the intertidal zone, while herring lay their eggs on eelgrass and other marine algae. Because forage fish spawn on nearshore vegetation and beaches of the Puget Sound shoreline, local spawning populations are vulnerable to shoreline development. Some components of a healthy beach: Functioning coastal processes: erosion and deposition Well managed upland drainage Free of bulkheads, groins or seawalls Healthy vegetation for shading Nearshore, shallow-water beds of eelgrass provide food and shelter for over 70 species of fish and innumerable invertebrates, including Dungeness crab. Local seabirds, Surf smelt image courtesy of Puget Sound Action Team

5 healthy beaches support forage fish Forage fish habitat protection Documented forage fish spawning sites are protected by state administrative code and local regulations. San Juan County and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife review shoreline projects (bulkheads, docks, etc.) to ensure there is no impact to spawning habitat. There are 59 surf smelt spawning beaches, 8 sand lance spawning beaches and 5 herring spawning grounds in San Juan County. do forage fish spawn near you? san juan county forage fish spawning habitat legend Forage Fish Spawn Habitat

6 vital nearshore habitat supports salmon and orca Salmon and Orca populations in the sea around our islands are declining. This has drawn attention to the importance of preserving nearshore marine habitats, beaches and eelgrass prairies for juvenile salmon and critical salmon prey species including surf smelt, Pacific sand lance and Pacific herring. Vital nearshore environments are at risk today from many activities occurring in our islands. Unmitigated logging and housing development sends sediment into inlets and bays, limiting light and coating shallower bays and marine vegetation in a layer of mud. Docks and marinas block the sunlight that eelgrass requires to grow. Pollution from storm water runoff and failing septic systems harm water quality. Shoreline structures boat ramps, seawalls and bulkheads eliminate spawning beaches by directly covering the habitat or cutting off the supply of sand and gravel required by forage fish to successfully incubate their eggs. Nearshore habitats are the interface between the land and the sea. Orca whales rely on salmon for food. Salmon and salmon prey (forage fish) depend on the shoreline for food and shelter. Their health here reflects the overall health of the ecosystem. Terrestrial insects from nearshore riparian areas are an important component of a salmon s diet in its first year.

7 people and fish depend on coastal forests Riparian areas are often referred to as ribbons of life along our waterways because of the large numbers of species they benefit. Coastal vegetation shades incubating surf smelt eggs, keeping them cooler during the hot summer months when low tides generally occur during the day. Coastal forests also provide an important food source for juvenile salmon. Specifically, many terrestrial insects that live in riparian plants end up in the water, where they are likely to become part of a young salmon s next meal. Some benefits of healthy coastal forests: Provide shade for incubating forage fish (surf smelt) eggs Stabilize banks and reduce erosion Provide nutrients (invertebrates, leaf litter) to the marine food web Improve water quality Meet habitat needs for wildlife Protect scenic qualities Madrona image courtesy of Puget Sound Action Team

8 eelgrass: an underwater ark Compared to nearby barren, shifting sands, the eelgrass meadow is full of life. As in an old-growth forest, there are habitats in every niche. Eelgrass beds grow in shallow bays and coves, tidal creeks, and estuaries. They serve as a haven for crabs, scallops, numerous species of fish, and other wildlife, providing these creatures with habitat, nursery grounds, and food. The long blades of grass are often covered with tiny marine plants and animals. Species commonly associated with eelgrass meadows in San Juan County include Pacific herring, out-migrating juvenile salmon, Dungeness crab and Great Blue Herons. oxygen from photosynthesis juvenile chum salmon grass shrimp juvenile Dungeness crab Pacific herring eggs bay pipefish lacuna snails adult Dungeness crab eelgrass roots geoduck slim films

9 why care about eelgrass? Benefits of eelgrass Eelgrass communities support all stages of the marine food web Eelgrass provides multiple habitat niches and complex structures Eelgrass prairies mitigate wave energy and trap sediment, protecting shorelines from erosion The connectivity of eelgrass communities provide migratory habitat for salmon and other species Threats to eelgrass Changes in light, temperature, nutrient and chemical conditions Erosion caused by logging and development sends sediment into bays, limiting light and coating marine vegetation with sediments Dredging can directly destroy plants and add to water quality problems Docks and marinas block the sunlight eelgrass plants require to grow Is there eelgrass in your neighborhood? san juan county eelgrass distribution legend Outer line of eelgrass beds

10 kelp habitat: rainforest of the sea Kelp species abound in the clear, cold waters of San Juan County. The most visible, bull kelp, is one of the fastest growing organisms on earth. In Washington State growth rates of 5.5 inches per day have been documented! Approximately 1/3 of the floating kelp resources of Puget Sound can be found in San Juan County. The term kelp refers to all brown algae that are attached to the seafloor. The most well known, bull kelp, grows in shallow subtidal waters to depths of over 60 feet, providing a protective canopy to hundreds of species of fish, invertebrates and marine mammals that feed, live and hunt below. There are also numerous species of understory kelps that grow along rocky bottoms from the intertidal to depths of 45 feet, providing additional habitat complexity to the kelp forest. As primary producers, kelp plants support complex food webs essential to forage fish, salmon and marine mammals. Rafts of kelp help reduce beach erosion and provide protected feeding areas for marine mammals, birds and fish. Kelp needs clean water and light to thrive. You can protect kelp habitat by reducing soil erosion and use of chemicals. Also, be sure your septic system is in good working order. If you are a boater, steer clear of kelp beds when underway and avoid locating docks and mooring buoys in kelp habitat. Sea otters and kelp The reintroduction and expansion of sea otter populations along the west coast are bringing change to kelp environments as the otters feed on urchins, a major grazer of kelp. While sea otter populations have not yet returned to San Juan County, individuals have been spotted locally and populations on the outer coast of Washington and British Columbia appear to expanding up the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Stay tuned! Illustration by Dorothea Kappler/Parks Canada 10

11 Along almost any rocky shore in the San Juans, clusters of bull kelp can be seen offshore. Kelp beds soften the force of waves, providing a resting area for seals, otters, and waterfowl. Underwater kelp forests shelter sea urchins, crabs, juvenile rockfish, sea anemones, starfish, sea cucumbers, octopuses, and many other marine creatures. Illustration by Catherine Eaton Skinner 11

12 upland impacts affect shoreline habitat So long as water flows downhill in San Juan County, it s going to be up to each of us to prevent pollution of our lakes, streams, and marine environment. The headlines suggest sudden drama - Fish Kills in Hood Canal or Eelgrass Disappears from Westcott Bay - but the reality is that much of our marine environment s declining health is due to people s everyday, seemingly harmless activities. As pollution from industrial sources has been increasingly controlled, domestic sources have become more significant. 60 percent of water pollution is now from mundane human impacts like cars leaking oil, fertilizers from farms and gardens, and failing septic tanks. With over 400 miles of shoreline and relatively small watershed areas, such pollution rapidly impacts San Juan County s fragile marine ecosystems. With so much shoreline and so little land area, water moving across almost any property can impact the nearshore environment. Marine areas, like Westcott Bay, have limited flushing and are the most susceptible to this kind of pollution. These same bays and estuaries provide breeding, feeding and shelter habitat for a host of species, including eelgrass, shellfish, crabs, forage fish, juvenile salmon and the wide variety of invertebrates that form the basis of the marine food web. 12

13 reduce runoff and protect salmon Stormwater plays a major role in nearshore and marine pollution. Although the term brings to mind busy city streets and grated storm drains, stormwater is also a big issue on our islands, transporting all sorts of materials downhill to the shoreline. In rural San Juan County, public infrastructure to control stormwater and the pollutants it carries is extremely limited. Individual efforts to reduce stormwater runoff are key to reducing the amount of pollutants reaching our shores and lakes, and also limiting erosion and improving recharge of groundwater aquifers. You can reduce your upland impact and protect local waters with these actions: Eliminate or reduce fertilizer use Maintain/update septic systems* Keep native vegetation and minimize lawns Drive less and keep your car running clean Properly dispose of animal waste Use non-toxic or biodegradable household products Keep yard waste out of local waters Properly dispose of boat sewage Improve livestock pasture and manure management Limit the impervious surface on your property Help protect forests, wetlands and other community open space *San Juan County offers low interest loans for septic system repairs. Contact Mark Tompkins in the Health Department at for information. 13

14 protect your property Protect shoreline property while maintaining healthy nearshore marine habitat for forage fish, salmon and whales. Shoreline Modifications Roadways, bridges, and bulkheads often bury the upper, inter-tidal zone and increase erosion along a shoreline. Such structures effectively cut off the migration of vital sediment to our beaches from upland sources, while at the same time concentrating wave energy onto the beach itself. The redirected wave and current energy increases erosion of the beach and intertidal area, eventually removing the fine sediments until only hardpan or bedrock remains. This results in shorelines that are no longer suitable habitat for eelgrass or forage fish spawning. Armoring also leads to beaches that are steep and difficult for people to access. Soft Shore Techniques Soft shore protection and restoration techniques can be used to protect property and restore nearshore habitat. Indigenous materials such as gravel, sand, logs, and root masses are perfect for enhancing natural beach shape and processes. Soft shore techniques have proved to be a successful method of addressing the erosion concerns that lead to shoreline armoring at many sites in Puget Sound, where over one-third of the shoreline is armored. An example soft shore restoration project implemented with multiple landowners near Anacortes is provided in the BEFORE and AFTER photos shown in the two pictures to the right. The successful project improved beach conditions for fish and wildlife as well as for the people who live along the shore. For details, go to How armoring impacts beaches over time: 1. Shoreline structures stop upland sediments from gravitating down to, and reaching a beach. 2. Waves roll in and hit structures; the waves are deflected down into the beach; this increases the erosion of beach sediment. 3. Over the long term, a beach, starved and washed of sediments, becomes barren. 4. The end result: hardpan or bedrock beaches with reduced habitat or recreational value. 14

15 protect marine habitat photo by Geologist Jim Johannessen. photo by Geologist Jim Johannessen. before Before soft shore restoration, erosion in front of the bulkhead continued, limiting access and visibility for shoreline residents and reducing habitat for marine species. after Soft shore techniques restored a more natural beach, enhancing shoreline resources for people and wildlife. Coastal Geologic Services Restoration Project. 15

16 shoreline permit requirements To protect your property, your safety and our region s natural resources, federal, state and local guidelines establish rules for work performed in or near the shoreline. These rules apply to clearing vegetation, removing trees, grading land, drainage, erosion control and other construction projects. In a 1972 referendum, the citizens of Washington adopted the Shoreline Management Act recognizing the inherent harm in an uncoordinated and piecemeal development of the state s shorelines. Shorelines receive special protection, because they are susceptible to landslides, water quality problems, and habitat damage. It is the responsibility of the landowner to check with the County Planning Department ( ) before proceeding with any tree removal, clearing, grading, or construction activities, including repairs, within 200 feet of the shoreline (see graphic below). While you should start with the local planning department for permits, many shoreline activities also require environmental review and permits from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These agencies ensure adequate protections of the fish and wildlife, water and public uses of shoreline and marine resources that we all enjoy. Most shoreline rules require you to consider project alternatives with the least impact to marine resources. Agency biologists are usually available to provide some technical assistance. It is important to remember that a contractor is not a scientist. A contractor is a great choice to implement your site plan, but you should consult a shoreline expert to develop your site plan. 16 Illustration courtesy Washington State Department of Ecology More shoreline habitat is lost from the cumulative impacts of many smaller projects than from major construction projects.

17 landowner resources Voluntary Puget Sound Action Team (PSAT): PSAT produces reports on environmental conditions and has many resources targeted at assisting shoreline landowners SOUND SJC Marine Resources Committee (MRC): The MRC is a voluntary, local, advisory board to the County Council on topics of significance to the marine environment. The MRC also serves as the local salmon recovery citizen committee. San Juan Islands Conservation District: The Conservation District provides natural resources education, information, and technical assistance free of charge to citizens of, and organizations, in San Juan County FRIENDS of the San Juans: For up-to-date information on local shoreline habitats, conditions and resources available to landowners, please contact the FRIENDS Regulatory Office of Regulatory Assistance (ORA): ORA s mission is to answer permitting questions and provide access to information about state regulations. For complex environmental permitting, ORA helps coordinate between the several layers of state, local, and federal permit review SJC Community Development and Planning: All permits for work on shoreline property originate at the local level, although coordination with other State and Federal agencies may also be required. The County Planning Department manages permitting, exemptions, variances and violations WA Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW): Shoreline activities (including bulkheads, docks, ramps, dredging and fill activities) occurring below ordinary high water require a Hydraulic Permit and will be reviewed by a WDFW habitat biologist WA Department of Ecology: Compliance with the Shoreline Master Program is implemented at the local level with guidance by Ecology. See also their Shorelands and Environmental Assistance website at Army Corps of Engineers (regulatory branch): An additional permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is required for any beach structures/modifications occurring below mean higher high water Code Enforcement: The high benefit and value of Puget Sound shorelines has resulted in strong community support for shoreline protections. If you are concerned that environmental standards are not being met, contact the San Juan County code enforcement officer at (360)

18 protect your shoreline A voluntary gift of land (or a gift of conservation interest in land) is one of the most significant contributions a family or an individual can make to the scenic and natural future of the San Juan Islands. In addition, preservation may entitle property owners to significant tax breaks! In San Juan County, a number of voluntary conservation options are available to interested landowners including: the donation of land, placement of a conservation easement on your land or placement of your property in Washington State s Open Space tax incentive program. A conservation easement is one of the more flexible options available for the property owner and can be tailored to protect the unique resource values of your land. What is a Conservation Easement? Conservation Easements are legal, recorded documents that provide a versatile way to protect key scenic and natural features of a property while the property remains in private ownership. Through a Conservation Easement, a set of agreements that say what can and cannot be done on the land are developed. In some cases, the landowner is paid to place these restrictions on the property. In other cases, economic compensation is achieved through tax benefits. Because the property remains in private ownership, there is no public access unless the owner desires it. The easement is recorded with the county auditor just like any other formal document that affects title to land. The property owner continues to own the land and pays the property taxes. The owner can sell the land, or give it away; but no matter who owns the land, the easement always remains in effect. The restrictions apply in perpetuity. Interested in a long-term protection strategy? San Juan County Land Bank (360) San Juan Preservation Trust (360) , For more information on Washington State s Open Space Program contact the San Juan County Community Development and Planning Dept. at (360) Chinook salmon image courtesy of Puget Sound Action Team 18

19 help protect water quality WHEN YOU RE FERTILIZING YOUR LAWN, YOU RE NOT JUST FERTILIZING YOUR LAWN. You fertilize your lawn. Then it rains. The rain washes the fertilizer along the curb, into the storm drain and directly into our lakes, streams and Puget Sound. This causes algae to grow, which uses up oxygen that fish need to survive. So if you fertilize, follow the directions. REMEMBER, WHEN YOU RE WASHING YOUR CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY, YOU RE NOT JUST WASHING YOUR CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. All the soap, scum and oily grit runs along the curb and into the storm drain, then our lakes, streams and Puget Sound. Wash your car on grass or gravel instead of the street. Or better yet, take it to a car wash where the water gets treated and recycled. WHEN YOUR PET GOES ON THE LAWN, IT DOESN T JUST GO ON THE LAWN. When our pets leave those little surprises, rain washes all that pet waste and bacteria into our storm drains, and then pollutes our waterways. So what to do? Simple. Dispose of it properly (preferably in the toilet). Then that little surprise gets treated like it should. WHEN YOUR CAR S LEAKING OIL ON THE STREET, IT S NOT JUST LEAKING OIL ON THE STREET. Leaking oil goes from car to street, and is washed from the street into the storm drains and into our lakes, streams and Puget Sound. Now imagine the number of cars in the area and you can imagine the amount of oil that finds it s way from leaky gaskets into our waters. So please, fix oil leaks. King County, City of Seattle, City of Tacoma, City of Bellevue and the Washington State Department of Ecology 19

20 The mission of FRIENDS of the San Juans is to protect the land, water, sea and livability of the San Juan Islands through science, education, law and citizen action. FRIENDS created this Shoreline Stewardship Guide with the generous support of: The Russell Family Foundation, The Puget Sound Action Team, The Charlotte Martin Foundation and The Salmon Recovery Funding Board. For more information on our programs please call or visit our website FRIENDS of the San Juans P.O. Box 1344 Friday Harbor, WA designed by tif & gif creative, printed on recycled paper with soy ink