low impact development
FRIENDS has created a list of Low Impact Development and Green Building Resources. Please click here to download this list.
San Juan County’s population is going to continue to increase, escalating pressures on our islands and surrounding waters. Can we grow without destroying what we hold precious: our beautiful environment and its natural resources and wildlife?
Low Impact Development provides strategies to minimize development impact on land, groundwater, vegetation, wildlife, marine waters and creatures, and energy resources.
Practical applications will depend on the scale and location of the development, and on the priorities of the community. In the case of a single inland house priorities may be minimizing footprint size and the number of trees felled. In the case of a large-scale development like that at Roche Harbor, the major concerns may be controlling water run-off and finding ways to group new homes to leave much of the total site in its natural state.
LID should be cost-effective for the developer, the homeowner, and the larger community. A smaller footprint should result in lower energy costs; minimizing potential storm water run-off means less public costs for drainage; grouping new homes reduces infrastructure expenditures.
The May 2003 Low Impact Development Conference in Friday Harbor, of which FRIENDS was a sponsor, summarized LID as follows:
"Practicing LID means making individual choices that help preserve what we all value about the San Juan Islands and that make good economic sense:
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Planning to protect existing natural features;
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Managing surface water to prevent soil erosion and waterway pollution, and to enhance groundwater recharge;
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Landscaping to encourage wildlife and reduce the use of water and toxic chemicals;
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Designing buildings to reduce energy consumption;
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Selecting materials to minimize resource and manufacturing impacts and to take advantage of opportunities to recycle or reuse materials;
- Using practices that reduce waste and pollution during construction.”
More information about the benefits of Low Impact Development can be read in FRIENDS Spring 2005 and Winter 2006 Newsletters.
Leave No Footprints....Low Impact Tourism
FRIENDS advocates for educating island visitors on how to limit their impact. The following suggestions are intended to help visitors conserve the San Juan's natural and cultural resources. Please pass these recommendations on to your visitors.
Please Conserve Water. We are surrounded by salt water and our fresh water is precious. Please take short showers and reuse your towels. Washing bed linens on a limited basis may be requested. Please do not run water continuously; wash items in containers. No vehicle or boat washing. Please help us use water wisely. Report water leaks to the manager.
Noise, light, and electricity. Please be respectful of your noise and lights use. Please turn off lights when not in use. Protect the night sky for stargazing!
 San Juan County is a Marine Biological Preserve. State law prohibits the taking or destruction of any living specimen except for food use. Taking of specimens must be in accordance with State Fisheries regulations. While boating near any of our 86 National Wildlife Refuges, or seal haul out rocks, please maintain a 200 yard distance from the island to avoid harassment to wildlife.
Fishing & Crabbing. Sport fishing and crabbing regulations apply for San Juan County as well as some voluntary bottomfish reserves. You can obtain a fishing, crabbing, or shellfish license at most sporting good stores.
Wildlife Watching. Please contact your innkeeper on special land-based whale watching locations and commercial wildlife tours.
Kayaking & Boating. Please share the water. Stay 2 00 yards away from marine mammals and all National Wildlife Refuges. Overnight accommodation is available at over a dozen marinas and marine parks for kayakers, sailors, and powerboats.
Hiking & Beachcombing. Stay on designated trails and paths. Pack out your garbage. Leave starfish, baby crabs, etc. in their natural environment. Fires in established fire pits only if burn ban is not in effect.
Saturday Farmers Market. Enjoy fresh locally grown island produce at farmers markets on Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan. (Seasonal).
Be a responsible pets owner. Please keep pets leashed and pick up after your companion.
Stranded and Injured Animals. Report stranded or injured wildlife to Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at 378-5000.
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