Yellow Island’s dramatic wildflower displays draw visitors from all over the world. But the flowers are only one part of the story of this Nature Conservancy preserve.
Help us tell the story of the rich ecological community and the people behind it! Money raised will help fund interpretive signs to make this experience more meaningful for the hundreds of visitors who come each year.
Developing new signage for Yellow Island will enable the hundreds of visitors who arrive by kayak and private boat to develop a deeper appreciation for the history and ecology of this special place. We will share the story of its plants, its wildlife and its place in the story of San Juan Islands conservation!
Join this movement and make a lasting gift to this special island preserve:
What Makes Yellow Island So Special?
The open prairie has been maintained by prescribed fire, a reflection of the land-management practices of Native Americans who lived in this region for generations. The prairie continues to be a learning lab for us, as researchers track the dates of first bloom to learn about the effects of climate change on plant life.
Animal life is also part of its story, as bald eagles fly majestically above the island’s trees and harbor seals can be found on the rocks off the island’s west spit. Harlequin ducks and the black oystercatcher can be seen in the intertidal zone, while mink and river otters are common on the island. Farther out in the nutrient-rich waters surrounding the island, marine mammals such as orcas, harbor porpoises and sea lions can be seen swimming and feeding.
We protect these species directly and through partnership with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Yellow and Low Islands Marine Protected Area protects the marine waters up to 300 feet out from the shoreline of Yellow Island and from the shoreline of its smaller neighbor: Low Island. It’s one of five marine preserves in the San Juan Islands where fishing is limited to ease pressures on fish such as rockfish and lingcod.
