News and Views
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Oct 14, 2025: County Issues Proclamation in Recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Oct 14, 2025: Building the Team: San Juan County Welcomes New DCD Director, Fire Marshal, and Public Defender
Oct 11, 2025: Dr. Corey Casper’s Official Candidate Statement for Lopez Island Hospital District, Position 2
Oct 8, 2025: Fall 2025 Great Islands Clean-Up Collects Over 1,300 Pounds of Litter Across San Juan County
Oct 6, 2025: San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Acquires 225-acre School Trust Land Parcel on Blakely Island
Sep 25, 2025: Meeting Recap: Community Discusses Sheriff Substation Move on Lopez with County Officials & Staff
Sep 16, 2025: Interested in Learning About the County's Sheriff Substation Move on Lopez? Join us for a Briefing & Feedback Session!
Sep 9, 2025: Rising Tides: Protecting our Homes, Roads, and Habitat - Save The Date for Sea Level Rise Workshops this Fall
Sep 5, 2025: *POSTPONED* Watch Over Yourself Well: Coast Salish Gender, Sexuality, & the Canoe Journey
Aug 29, 2025: Black-tail deer Hunting Season Opens September 1 at Lopez Hill and Mount Grant Preserves
Aug 28, 2025: Free Public Lecture and Field Seminar Growing Old Growth: The Relationships that Define the Future of our Forests
Aug 20, 2025: Meeting Recap: Community Members Discuss County’s Potential Purchase of Decatur Island Property
Aug 19, 2025: San Juan County Awards $815,000 in Public Facilities Assistance Funding to Local Organizations
Aug 14, 2025: ‘Coffee with Kari’ Offers Lopez Islanders a Chance to Meet with Councilmember McVeigh on Sep. 27
Jul 31, 2025: Interested in discussing the potential Property Purchase on Decatur? Join us for a Brown Bag Lunch!
Jul 17, 2025: San Juan County Responds to Recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Actions in the Islands
Jul 16, 2025: County Council Discusses Ferry Service with Governor Ferguson at Orcas Community Meeting
Jul 9, 2025: Potential Purchase by the County of Property on Decatur Island to Support Barge Landing Access
Jul 1, 2025: Updated County Fairgrounds Ready to Welcome Summer Picnickers, Fairgoers, Campers, and More
Jun 18, 2025: How Does the New State Budget Impact San Juan County Funding & Programs? Council Reviews Highlights
May 22, 2025: San Juan County Elections Disability Advisory Committee Annual Meeting June 10 at 9:00AM
May 17, 2025: Need Urgent Community Support: Tell Governor Ferguson to Sign HB2049 and Increase Funding for Lopez School
May 16, 2025: One Month Mark: County’s Pilot Transport Services Shows Steady Ridership & Variety of Uses
May 14, 2025: Hazardous Waste Round-Ups: What Lopez and Orcas Residents Need to Know Before Drop-Off Day
May 7, 2025: Auditor Seeks Writers of Argument against Lopez Island Library and Lopez Island School District Ballot Measures
May 2, 2025: Plastic Free Salish Sea Sets Sail with the San Juan Island Yacht Club and Washington State Parks
Apr 25, 2025: New Daily Service Schedule, Growing Ridership & Other Insights on County’s Pilot Transport Services
Apr 24, 2025: Building and Land Use Permits, Long-Range Planning Projects, & Staff Recruitments: DCD Leadership Provides Spring Update
Apr 4, 2025: 2025 Comp Plan Update: Transportation Element, Plan Intro, & Administration Piece Ready for Review
Mar 19, 2025: San Juan County Establishes Interim Inter-Island Transportation Services as RFP Process Continues
Mar 7, 2025: 2025 Comp Plan Update: Climate Element and Draft Official Map Amendments Available for Review
Mar 6, 2025: Governor Ferguson announces plan to restore Washington State Ferries to full service by this summer
Mar 4, 2025: Public Meeting: Land Bank Using Prescribed Fires to Manage Wildfire Risks & Restore Ecosystems
Feb 19, 2025: San Juan County Seeks Proposals from Transportation Service Providers for Pilot Project
Feb 12, 2025: Call for Candidates: Three-Day Special Filing Period for Lopez Metropolitan Park District Commissioners
Jan 19, 2025: Four districts, six unions, three PTAs, and county leadership all agree: legislators must take action to fully fund education no
Dec 19, 2024: San Juan County Parks and Fair Announces New Camping Software; Delaying Reservation Availability
Dec 10, 2024: County Council Considers Extending Agreement with Lopez Solid Waste to Allow for More Collaboration
Dec 5, 2024: San Juan County to Consider Updated Interlocal Agreement with Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District
Dec 2, 2024: San Juan County Council Sets Public Hearing for Cultural Access Sales Tax at Dec. 10 Meeting
Nov 25, 2024: San Juan County Celebrates Completion of Lopez Skate Park and Calls for Inaugural Skaters
Nov 7, 2024: How Has Extreme Weather Impacted You? Participate in the County’s Climate Resilience Planning Effort
Nov 1, 2024: UPDATE: Sea Wall Repairs Temporarily Close MacKaye Harbor Dock and Boat Ramp on Lopez Island
Oct 22, 2024: DRAFT North Shore Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Oct 21, 2024: Reminder: You’re Invited to Attend Open Houses for the 2025 Comp Plan Update This Fall
Oct 1, 2024: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE SAN JUANS SPONSORS OCTOBER COUNTY COUNCIL VOTER FORUMS ON SJI, ORCAS, AND LOPEZ
Sep 24, 2024: County Hosts Community Meeting on Lopez Island to Discuss Public Safety during Hunting Season
Sep 24, 2024: SJC Reviews Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies in the face of Sea Level Rise
Sep 23, 2024: DRAFT Watmough Bay Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Aug 29, 2024: San Juan County’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Survey Sets Baseline for Ongoing Change
Aug 27, 2024: 2024 San Juan County WSU Master Gardeners Gardening Workshop Series, October 15-24, 2024
Aug 27, 2024: County Representatives Discuss Solutions to Ferry Service Disruptions with Governor Inslee
Aug 21, 2024: County Council’s Request to Governor for Relief from Ferry Service Disruptions Not Fulfilled
Aug 20, 2024: San Juan County Certifies Primary Election Results & Celebrates Highest Primary Turnout in Years
Aug 13, 2024: WSF Commits Additional Crews to Interisland Route to Ensure Service During County Fair Week
Aug 13, 2024: Ferry Data from Staff and Local Partners Shapes Council Request for ‘Executive Relief’ From WA State
Aug 5, 2024: The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival returns to Lopez for its 27th Summer Concert Season
May 2, 2024: WA State Governor and Assistant Secretary of WSF Talk Ferry Service & Solar Power with SJC Officials
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
WSF Ferry Terminals will Close for 48 Hours in Spring of 2027: What Timing is Best for You?
Oct 17, 2025
By San Juan County
Please take this quick survey to provide your input to WSF!
SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. October 17, 2025 - Washington State Ferries (WSF) will upgrade equipment at the Lopez and Orcas Island ferry terminals in spring 2027. A portion of this maintenance requires 48-hour service closures. WSF is interested in learning which days islanders would prefer to close the terminals on Lopez and Orcas.
San Juan County is helping gather community feedback regarding the best timing for these closures. Please take this quick survey to provide your input to WSF: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/san-juan-county-ferry-information/surveys/ferry-terminal-closure-dates-2027-2
What is the vehicle transfer span?
The vehicle transfer span is the part of the slip that raises and lowers to meet up with the ferry, allowing vehicles to drive on and off the vessel. The planned work replaces the major mechanical and electrical systems that raise and lower the span. While those components are being repaired, the transfer span will not function.
Why do we need to do this work?
The mechanical lift systems at the Anacortes, Lopez, and Orcas terminals have been in operation for several decades and are at the end of their life spans.
Upgrading the VTS systems improves safety for crews and reliability for passengers. It also standardizes operations for our terminal and vessel staff who rotate among terminals.
WSF will sequence the work to move from one terminal to the next to keep consistency of work crews and minimize passenger disruption. (See map showing the order of the upgrades.)
Why the full shutdown of ferry service?
The items of the transfer span that are to be replaced??"lift beam, head frame, counterweights, and cables??"are major structural and mechanical components of the ferry slip. The slip cannot operate without them.
Learn more about the systemwide vehicle transfer span update here: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/24192/widgets/80942/documents/73912
Your feedback on closure timing is greatly appreciated! Please take this quick, four-question survey to provide your input to WSF: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/san-juan-county-ferry-information/surveys/ferry-terminal-closure-dates-2027-2
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San Juan County is helping gather community feedback regarding the best timing for these closures. Please take this quick survey to provide your input to WSF: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/san-juan-county-ferry-information/surveys/ferry-terminal-closure-dates-2027-2
What is the vehicle transfer span?
The vehicle transfer span is the part of the slip that raises and lowers to meet up with the ferry, allowing vehicles to drive on and off the vessel. The planned work replaces the major mechanical and electrical systems that raise and lower the span. While those components are being repaired, the transfer span will not function.
Why do we need to do this work?
The mechanical lift systems at the Anacortes, Lopez, and Orcas terminals have been in operation for several decades and are at the end of their life spans.
Upgrading the VTS systems improves safety for crews and reliability for passengers. It also standardizes operations for our terminal and vessel staff who rotate among terminals.
WSF will sequence the work to move from one terminal to the next to keep consistency of work crews and minimize passenger disruption. (See map showing the order of the upgrades.)
Why the full shutdown of ferry service?
The items of the transfer span that are to be replaced??"lift beam, head frame, counterweights, and cables??"are major structural and mechanical components of the ferry slip. The slip cannot operate without them.
Learn more about the systemwide vehicle transfer span update here: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/24192/widgets/80942/documents/73912
Your feedback on closure timing is greatly appreciated! Please take this quick, four-question survey to provide your input to WSF: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/san-juan-county-ferry-information/surveys/ferry-terminal-closure-dates-2027-2
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