This Steller sea lion is just one of the unique wildlife encounters that you can enjoy while visiting the islands . Keep an eye out for large colonies hauled out on rocks and an ear out for their roars often heard throughout the night .
Beneath Sea the
Exploring the wonders under the surface of the San Juan Ilands .
By JESS NEWLEY
BREACHING KILLER WHALES , SOARING EA-
GLES , swimming sea lions , and stunning shorelines — these are just a few of the sights that people travel to the San Juan Islands every year by foot , boat , or plane to behold . If you ’ ve been to the islands before , then you know that their moniker as “ the hidden gem of Washington State ” is true . But did you know that under the water there is a whole system of wondrous natural resources ( eelgrass , kelp , forage fish , juvenile salmon , and of course , killer whales , to name a few ) that support what we get to experience above the surface ?
Residents and visitors alike play an important role in stewarding the marine habitats of the Salish Sea . Read on to learn more about a few vital habitats and species of this region , and how you
can help support and maintain them .
Eelgrass is a flowing plant that grows in shallow , light-filled marine waters . Eelgrass forms large meadows of underwater vegetation that support marine food webs . At low tide , it is easy to see eelgrass , especially in the spring and summer when it thrives . Eelgrass abundance varies seasonally with some winter die-off . The long blades of eelgrass are an underwater nursery for incubating eggs , such as herring , and provide food and refuge for a wide array of small creatures and young animals , including Dungeness crab , juvenile flatfish , and salmon . Eelgrass beds are also important feeding areas for birds . In addition , eelgrass mitigates wave energy and traps sediments , safeguarding shorelines from wave-driven erosion .
If you are a boater , you can help protect eelgrass by anchoring in water deeper than 30 feet . While each individual anchor might create just a small scar in the meadow , the cumulative effects can be dramatic enough to be seen in satellite images from space . To avoid damaging eelgrass , it ’ s best to use a public marina or mooring buoy . When those
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