Shore Friendly Program

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Shore Friendly Program Coordinator, Kelly Zupich.

Sign Up for a Site Visit Today

Are you concerned about your shoreline property? Would you like to learn more about natural techniques to protect your property and the shoreline habitat you love? We work with technical professionals who can provide site-specific information about your shoreline property and give recommendations on how to address shoreline erosion, vegetation management, drainage concerns, king tides, sea level rise preparation, and even structure relocation to help you protect your property and Puget Sound. Site visits are completely free of cost and non-regulatory.

 We also offer beach walks for entire shoreline communities and HOAs.

About the Island County Shore Friendly Program

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Island County Natural Resources secured funding through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program to implement landowner incentives to reduce Puget Sound shoreline armoring and enhance marine habitat in Island County. 

The aim of this program is to promote alternative strategies for shoreline residential properties that provide both the use and enjoyment of the property while promoting and maintaining the ecological properties of nearshore ecosystems for the support of fish and wildlife.

With approximately 200 miles of shoreline surrounded by marine waters, Island County has the second-highest percentage of shoreline parcels in Puget Sound. The nearshore and coastal estuaries provide critical shelter, refuge, food and physiological refuge for juvenile salmon as they transition from river to ocean stages of their lives. Island County shorelines also have the second-greatest portion of Sound-wide forage fish spawning parcels, of which 70% are unarmored. 

The program provides several benefits for Island County marine shoreline property owners and beach communities. Contact Kelly Zupich, Shore Friendly Program Coordinator, if you have any questions.

  • We provide free technical assistance by bringing shoreline experts to your property to discuss your unique concerns. 
  • We provide free technical assistance for entire shoreline communities. 
  • We can assist with design, permitting, and restoration. Get started by signing up for a site visit.
  • We provide educational opportunities and resources for shoreline property owners.

Helpful Resources

Shore Friendly Video Series

Learn more about what it means to be Shore Friendly in this video series from our partners at the Northwest Straits Foundation. 

1. How our beaches are created and maintained: In the first video of the series, coastal geologist Hugh Shipman guides us on a virtual beach walk to learn about the geology and physical processes that create and maintain our beaches. As we explore how beaches form and change over time, we’ll also learn how these processes determine who and what utilizes the shoreline and makes it their home.

 


2. Erosion: In the second video, we learn about the erosion process, and how our well-intentioned efforts to prevent erosion can have negative effects on both the ecology and geology of the beach.

 


3. Marine ecosystems and shoreline armoring: In the third video, we explore a bigger picture of the marine ecosystem by learning about the connections between all the species that use the shoreline, and how bulkheads and other forms of shoreline armoring can disrupt that ecological balance.

 


4. Why vegetation matters: The fourth video provides a big-picture perspective on why vegetation matters. More vegetation videos are anticipated, and will focus on native plants, managing invasives, and managing vegetation for views.

 


5. Stewards of our Shoreline: In this video, you'll hear from three landowners living on the Puget Sound. They worked with the Northwest Straits Foundation's Shore Friendly program to get help replanting their shoreline with native plants to provide a natural solution to shoreline erosion.

Island County Shore Friendly Video:

How can I protect and enjoy my shoreline property while also promoting a healthy ecosystem?

In the video below, local residents and a coastal geologist share about the environmental, recreational, and aesthetic benefits of natural and restored beaches. 

Dive Deeper with These Resources

 - In this webinar from the Northwest Straits Foundation, learn how you can protect and maintain your shoreline property and access while also protecting the fish, wildlife and habitats that we all enjoy.

 


- Are you ready to learn about the uses of native vegetation for shoreline stabilization and habitat? This webinar from Northwest Straits Foundation is an excellent place to get started!