San Juan Islands

Deputies responded to multiple fire and smoke reports across the San Juan Islands on October 5, including yard fires, a bonfire, possible illegal burns, and smoke from Turtleback Mountain on Orcas Island. The recent uptick in small fire incidents reflects heightened fire activity across the islands during the open burn season.

National Park Service fire crews conducted prescribed fires on the American Camp prairie in early October 2026, targeting habitat restoration for the island marble butterfly and golden paintbrush. The low-intensity thermal detections visible in satellite data align with this planned, controlled burn within a narrow optimal window before fire danger increases further.

A Red Speckled Dun mayfly was observed on September 30, 2026, in the San Juan Islands National Monument near Friday Harbor. Callibaetis species are multi-generational, producing up to three broods per year, with the final brood typically emerging in fall. Late-September emergence of this pollution-sensitive mayfly reflects the seasonal decline in temperature triggering the third-generation hatch from nymphs that completed development over six weeks.

Pollution-sensitive caddisfly larvae from multiple genera were observed emerging or active from late August through September 30 in the San Juan Islands, including Lenarchus, Onocosmoecus, and Limnephilus species. Late-summer caddisfly emergence indicates clean, well-oxygenated water conditions supporting aquatic insect development, as these mayflies and caddisflies require good dissolved oxygen and low pollution to complete their larval stages. Their presence in September aligns with the fall emergence period when larvae pupate and adults emerge to breed.

A Northwestern Salamander was observed on October 4, 2026 in Anacortes. This native amphibian requires cool, moist forest conditions and indicates intact wetland and riparian habitat. Early October sightings document them migrating from breeding wetlands to terrestrial forest refugia for overwintering.

A North American River Otter was observed on October 5, 2026 at SR-20 Spur in Anacortes. This semiaquatic mammal indicates accessible riparian habitat and healthy stream conditions. River otters serve as an indicator of water quality and available fish populations in freshwater systems.

Bigleaf maple on Whidbey Island was observed with colored and falling leaves on 2026-10-03, consistent with phenology observations of the same species showing colored leaves, falling leaves, and continued leafing near Friday Harbor and Eastsound through early October. Autumn color change in this large deciduous tree is progressing across the San Juan Islands region.

Pacific madrone was recorded on 2026-10-04 at Cantilever Way in Friday Harbor and three additional locations in the San Juan Islands area within the past week, with observations continuing from early September. These widely distributed records document the species' presence across the region.

Friday Harbor STP is in Significant Non-Compliance for exceeding permit limits for a pollutant measured on a non-monthly average basis. The facility discharged more of a parameter than its Clean Water Act permit allows, measured over a period other than a monthly average. Identification of the specific pollutant exceeded requires access to the facility's discharge monitoring reports.

San Juan County, Washington has been in D0 (Abnormally Dry) classification for 100% of its area continuously since early July 2026, as of the week ending Sept 21. Normally the islands experience a narrow window in summer when conditions become dry enough to support fire spread, and this persistent dryness extends that risk window as the fire season reaches its typical fall peak.