Programs & Events

Shoreline Stewardship Program Eelgrass Protection Program Workshops & Events Tribal Partnerships Anti-Litter Program

Shoreline Species & Habitats

Forage Fish Eelgrass Kelp Salmon Coastal Forests

Human Impacts

Shoreline Armoring Docks Clearing & Grading Stormwater Toxins in Our Water Voluntary Conservation Programs

While pollution from industrial sources is increasingly controlled, our understanding of the huge impact that results from pollution from domestic sources has increased.  Currently, much of our marine environments declining health is due to everyday, seemingly harmless activities and mundane human impacts like cars leaking oil, fertilizers from farms and gardens, and failing septic tanks.  According to the film Poisoned Waters, every two years, the Puget Sound receives the equivalent of one Exxon Valdez tanker oil spill from the collected impacts of smaller inputs--and this estimate just covers oil! 

Stormwater plays a major role in nearshore and marine pollution.  Stormwater can also alter beach habitat conditions and geologic processes through increased erosion, concentrated flows and impacts of the physical infrastructure (outfall pipes and associated armoring).  Proper buffers around shorelines are the best way to help reduce pollution and impacts from stormwater. 

Stormwater management is a big issue in San Juan County, where public infrastructure is extremely limited.  Individual efforts are key to controlling stormwater and the pollutants it carries.  Major non-point pollution sources include failing septic systems, cars, sedimentation, chemicals and fertilizers.  Click here for more details on Toxins in our Waters.

Using low impact development principles is critical to managing stormwater.  For example, when designing a home, consider reducing the footprint by building upwards -- not outwards or just smaller; use spaced stones or gravel instead of concrete for walks and driveways; maintain native plants; and direct flow from gutters and roads into vegetated areas.  Maintain or create vegetated buffers to help reduce pollution and impacts from stormwater from reaching marine waters. 

The good news is that reducing domestic pollution and managing stormwater are things that we, at the individual, family and community level, can all do something about.

For more info, visit Department of Ecology Stormwater resources page