San Juan County Conservation Land Bank provides Orcas Island project updates
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Submitted by San Juan County.
The grant-funded Judd Cove Shoreline Restoration Project (https://sjclandbank.org/judd-cove-preserve-shoreline-restoration-project/) is scheduled to begin Sept. 4 and will require closure of the shoreline portion of the preserve for up to one week. We will remove a rock wall and concrete debris and re-grade the steep bank to establish a more natural slope. The work area will be seeded with native species and replanted with trees and shrubs this winter.
The Turtleback South Entrance Improvement Project (https://sjclandbank.org/turtleback-mountain-preserve-south-entrance-improvement-project/) will involve reconfiguring and improving the existing parking lot near Deer Harbor Road. This work will improve access and create eight additional parking spaces within the approximate footprint of the existing parking lot. The seasonal overflow parking area will be shifted slightly and improved, but will remain as a grass surface. Non-native and invasive trees will be removed, and the resulting logs will be used as habitat features to complement native trees and shrubs to be planted this winter. To accomplish this work, we must close the South Entrance for up to one week starting Sept. 23. All trails will remain open via the North Entrance during the project.
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we make these necessary improvements. For project plans and other details, please click on the links above or contact the preserve steward at 360-298-0052.
