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If you live on or near the Salish Sea in western Washington state, this website is for you. The WSU Shore Stewards program provides 10 guidelines and other resources for living on or near waters of the Salish Sea regions, including Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Strait of Georgia, and lakes, rivers, streams, and coasts in the area.

We hope you will join Shore Stewards today (it’s free) and voluntarily apply the best practices found on this website. When you become a Shore Steward you will receive our periodic newsletter in your inbox.

The Winter 2022 edition of Shore Steward News is about reflections and resolutions for the coming year. Whether you want to get closer to nature, build a compost pile, learn about native plants or volunteer, now is the time to think ahead and plan your year. Also, don’t miss the Fall 2021 edition where we share the amazing story of how local scientists discovered what is killing our coho salmon.

    • Guideline 10 – Building or Clearing Land Near The Shore
    • There are plenty of things to think about in any building project, and building along a shoreline can be especially complex. Whether you are just clearing a little land, or building a dock, a staircase…

    • Guideline 9 – Having Fun on Your Beach
    • Beaches not only provide great recreation for humans, but are also homes for many creatures. As a Shore Steward, it is important to learn how to enjoy the beach in a way that allows others…

    • Guideline 8 — Conserving Water in Your Home and Garden
    • Water is a limited resource, and too much down the drain and on the landscape is wasteful. The average American family uses 320 gallons of water around the house each day. As a Shore Steward,…

    • Guideline 7 – Enjoying Your Boat
    • Boating is a common pastime on our rivers, lakes, and on the Salish Sea. Fun on the lake or sea with family and friends is a great way to pass a summer afternoon. This guideline…

    • Guideline 6 – Living along Lakes and Streams
    • Freshwater shorelines are unique ecosystems that can provide important wildlife habitat and water quality benefits, as well as enjoyment for people. As a Shore Steward, it is important to protect these valuable ecosystems that feed…

    • Guideline 5 – Reducing Erosion & Landslides
    • Most shoreline and bluff landowners are keenly aware of the problems that can occur from erosion and landslides. We’ve all seen media coverage of a home teetering on the edge of a bluff, lives lost…

    • Guideline 4 – Managing Water Runoff
    • Rain is a part of life in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s mostly a good thing. But too much rain can cause flooding, especially when the water hits hard surfaces such as pavement and roofs…

    • Guideline 3 – Making Wise Choices When Landscaping
    • Landscaping is one of the most important features of your property. Your landscaping choices as a Shore Steward will affect soil stability, fish and wildlife habitat, water usage, and water quality. In this Guideline:Spotlight[action label="Noxious…

    • Guideline 2 – Working with Nature
    • Nature can play an important role in protecting your property. By working with nature you can decrease property maintenance time and cost, provide protection from natural forces (i.e., waves, flooding, etc.), help clean polluted water,…

    • Guideline 1 – Taking Care of Waste: From People, Pets, Livestock, and Products
    • Disposing of waste is an everyday occurrence. Waste comes from dogs, cows, horses, and people. Harmful pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites from failing septic systems and animal waste can pollute water. Other waste such as medicines and…

You will find information on this site that will help you better protect your family and the investment you have made in your home or property. You will learn how to protect water quality for the safety of your family by maintaining your septic system, dealing with pet and livestock waste and selecting landscaping that will reduce the need for fertilizers. You will find tips on harvesting and growing shellfish, protecting eelgrass while boating, preventing the spread of invasive species, water conservation and more.

While all the valuable information provided here applies to all the shores in Washington, the Shore Steward program is supported the following counties around Puget Sound:

  • Clallam
  • Island
  • Jefferson
  • Kitsap
  • Mason
  • Skagit
  • Snohomish
  • Pierce
  • Whatcom

Other Resources

You might also be interested in our other water websites:

Washington’s Water – and our new newsletter: Water Currents

Rain Gardens – a basic guide and resources for building and maintaining rain gardens in western Washington.