San Juan Area – Harndon Island Acquisition

Category Overview

State Parks grants help preserve and develop our state’s best outdoor recreation areas by funding new campgrounds and amenities to increase the capacity of our parks, creating new parks, improving park resources, and protecting historical areas. These grants help our state continue to develop our world-class parks system to share our cultural heritage and natural treasures with all of its visitors.

Project Highlights

State Parks will use this grant to buy the 2-acre Harndon Island, one of the few remaining privately owned properties in the area. Sucia Island and the majority of its adjoining small islands are part of Sucia Island State Park. Situated within Sucia Island’s Fossil Bay, Harndon Island is mostly in its natural state with a rocky shoreline and a Douglas fir and madrona forest. Hardon Island is for sale and is a priority acquisition within the park’s long-term boundary. Purchase of the island would provide public access, resolve trespass issues, protect views, and advance efforts to keep shoreline areas intact as sources of food for salmon. Sucia lies directly within one of the highest priority areas in the San Juan Islands for conservation of Chinook Salmon. State Parks will contribute $1,100 in donations of cash.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: State Parks Category: State Parks WWRP Grant: NULL Applicant Match: 1100 Project Type: Acquisition County: San Juan Legislative District: 40 Status: Board Preliminary Approved RCO Project # 16-1728

Location Details

The island is only accessible by boat. It is located approximately 200 feet from the end of Sucia Island's dock 1 in Fossil Bay. The closest marina is the Ditch on the north side of Orcas Island.

What is the WWRP

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) is a state grant program that creates and conserves local and state parks, wildlife habitat and working farms. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers WWRP grants, and the legislature funds the program.