Submitted by the San Juan Islands Conservation District.
This summer, the Orcas Island Youth Conservation Corps expanded its stewardship efforts from land to sea. The crew traveled to Padilla Bay to assist in a critical eelgrass restoration project led by the San Juan Islands Conservation District and Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve staff.
“Eelgrass is an aquatic plant native to the Salish Sea,” explained YCC crew member Marin Andersson. “It’s the only plant—not an algae or seaweed—that lives entirely in water.”
Eelgrass meadows are vital to the health of marine ecosystems. Found in intertidal zones and estuaries around the world, they provide essential habitat for forage fish, which in turn support salmon and other wildlife. Their roots stabilize sediment, preventing erosion, and the meadows help filter water and absorb carbon.
But like many native species, eelgrass is under threat, from boating, nutrient runoff and climate change. In the San Juan Islands, eelgrass decline has been documented by state monitoring programs. That’s where restoration efforts and the help of YCC crews come in.
YCC members Marin and her sister Sidney joined fellow crew members to assist with a two-day project focused on seed harvesting and plant analysis. “Eelgrass seeds are being collected and taken to Friday Harbor Labs,” said Sidney. “They’ll be tested and prepared to be planted in restoration sites around the islands.”
The crew also worked with Conservation District Eelgrass Project Manager Mitch McCloskey to clean eelgrass strands of epiphytes, organisms that grow on the blades, while learning to distinguish between native and invasive types. “Cleaning helps the plant photosynthesize and thrive. And studying the seeds in labs tracks growth habits,” said Marin.
Altogether, the crew contributed over 30 collective hours to the effort, gaining firsthand experience in marine restoration and citizen science. “Eelgrass protection and restoration is important for ensuring it survives,” Marin concluded. “This work is vital.”
Through projects like these, YCC participants not only gain job skills and ecological knowledge, they also develop a deeper connection to the land and sea that surround them, gaining awareness of real-world problems and solutions. Whether it’s digging out Scotch broom, building beaver dam analogs or wading into eelgrass meadows, they’re helping ensure a healthier future for the islands.
To support the Youth Conservation Corps, please consider donating at www.sanjuanislandscd.org/ycc.
