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executive summarY scenic byway corridor management plan

What is a Corridor Purpose of Developing the Management Plan? Corridor Management Plan Citizens from communities on San Juan Island and , along with agency partners at the local, regional, state, and federal level, have joined A corridor management together to develop this corridor management plan (CMP), which charts a course for the future of the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway. The CMP includes plan presents a clear recommendations for expanding stewardship and enhancing visitors’ experiences along the byway, while at the same time preserving the sensitive vision of what the scenic scenic, natural, archaeological, historic, cultural, and recreational resources of the islands and the quality of life enjoyed by islanders. CMP recommendations byway organization also include expanding multi-modal transportation options to reduce environmental impacts, enhance community livability, and improve visitor access. intends to accomplish. Telling Our Stories With specific strategies The CMP includes recommendations for telling the many interesting for managing tourism stories of the byway through interpretation, education, promotion, and hands-on stewardship activities. Through various projects and programs, and protecting unique visitors will become inspired as they learn and understand how islanders: natural and cultural • Live in this unique environment • Conserve energy and water; with a strong commitment to • Promote and enhance visitors’ resources, the plan sustainability and stewardship; experiences in the islands by • Protect natural resources such offering abundant recreation should reflect community as endangered wildlife, marine opportunities; life, and unique habitats; goals and respect local • Create and display diverse • Preserve and restore cultural works of art and architecture lifestyles and cultures. landscapes and historic throughout the islands; and buildings and sites; • Protect scenic areas and Adapted from America’s Byways® Grow, produce, and market viewsheds for future (National Scenic Byways Program) • local foods and products; generations to enjoy.

The full San Juan Islands Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan will soon be available online. Please visit: www.visitsanjuans.com/ scenicbyway to download the full plan.

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San Juan islands scenic byway — AUGUST 2011 1 Vision for the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway The San Juan Islands Scenic Byway Scenic Byway Values will provide access to a unique • Protecting and Preserving Natural and Cultural Resources marine and island environment. and Local Quality of Life • Managing Tourism and Byway-supported actions will Inspiring Stewardship protect sensitive resources, promote • Enhancing Visitor Experiences and Creating Lasting Memories ecologically-sustainable tourism, • Expanding Multi-modal Transportation Options to and preserve the culture and quality Reduce Environmental Impacts, Enhance Community Livability, of life in the islands. Here, visitors and Improve Visitor Access will encounter a place like no other, • Strengthening the Byway’s Identity and Promoting its where they can learn about stewardship Value as a Tourism Destination • Providing Effective, while building lasting memories from Ongoing Management and Organizational Support their extraordinary experiences. to the Byway

Mission Statement of the Byway: Through programs, projects, and initiatives, we will foster a strong sense of stewardship and pride in the byway and work collaboratively to protect unique and sensitive resources, preserve the local quality of life, and enhance facilities and opportunities for visitors so that the San Juan Islands experience of today can continue to be the experience of future generations.

2 cmp executive summary San Juan Islands Scenic Byway Supporting Our Partners Steering Committee

Deborah Hopkins Several of the projects listed on pages 6, 7 & 8 are being led by agencies San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau and other organizations. The byway will support these projects as a key Sandy Strehlou partner. Support from the byway group may include helping to seek Town of Friday Harbor/ funding and resources for projects, providing letters of support for grant Historic Preservation applications, and other actions. In addition to these project-specific activities, the byway group will continue to maintain strong ties with Melissa Johnson partners and byway interests, including: State Ferries • Coast Salish tribes of the region • Agricultural Resources Committee and other agricultural interests Terri Gilleland • Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce • • Friends of the San Juans • San Juan County (including Public • San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau Shannon Wilbur Works, Land Bank, and Parks) and tourism-related interests San Juan County Public Works • Preservation land trusts • San Juan County Economic Development Council Dona Wuthnow • Washington State Parks and San Juan County Parks and Recreation Commission • Chambers of Commerce on Orcas Recreation Island and San Juan Island • Town of Friday Harbor (including Historic Preservation) • Orcas Pathways and other Judy Cumming local trails groups San Juan County Land Bank • Community Groups from the Villages & Hamlets on the Islands • Other groups and organizations that support the byway’s Peter Dederich • Friends of Moran State Park San Juan Island mission and vision National Historical Park Michel Vekved Friends of Moran State Park/ Washington State Parks Cathy Faulkner Orcas Pathways Stephanie Buffum Friends of the San Juans Public workshops helped shape the development of the Corridor Management Plan. Hawkins Pingree San Juan County Agricultural 2010 2011 Resources Committee Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Meetings with Liz Illg Steering Committee San Juan Islands Existing Conditions Analysis Scenic Byway Coordinator Byways Features/Qualities Inventory and Mapping

A special thanks to citizens Public Meetings/Workshops from San Juan Island and Orcas Island who participated Development of Draft CMP PROJECT SCHEDULE in public workshops and Development of Final CMP provided input during the Implementation planning process

San Juan islands scenic byway — AUGUST 2011 3 San juan islands scenic byway Echo 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 3.0 Lummi intrinsic qualities Bay Miles Bay Byway 1 Portals to the Byway: Ferry Terminals Across the Salish Sea: The Marine Route 2 to and through the San Juan Islands Context San Juan Island

3 Town of Friday Harbor The scenic byway encompasses CANADA 4 San Juan Historical Museum Moresby

5 The Whale Museum the marine highway routesIsland used H 6 Jackson Beach North American Camp Unit of San Juan Island by Washington State Ferries Bay 7 National Historical Park (and the traditional Coast Salish Waldron 8 Cattle Point Interpretive Area/Lighthouse Island Clark Lime Kiln Point State Park a Island 9 routes across the Salish Sea), a.k.a. (Whale Watch Park)/Lighthouse Cowlitz Ship Bay Fishing Bay 10 San Juan County Park as well as land routes on San President Bay Lummi English Camp Unit of San Juan Island Stuart 11 r Channel Island National Historical Park Juan Island and Orcas Island. Island 12 San Juan Islands Museum of Art & Sculpture Park

13 Historic Roche Harbor o 14 Historic Schoolhouse at the Vineyards ORCAS The byway connects various East Orcas Island 1 Sound ISLAND 15 Orcas Village/Historic Orcas Hotel communitiesSidney across the islands, Spieden 16 Deer Harbor Ferry Terminal Eastsound Village, Village Green, Island 17 including the town of Friday S Historic Outlook Inn, and Crescent Beach Massacre Doe 18 Orcas Island Historical Museum Harbor and the village of Roche Bay Bay 19 Historic Rosario Resort and Moran Mansion 20 Moran State Park Harbor on San Juan Island, t 26 Roche 21 Mount Constitution/Interpretive Center James Harbor 13 West Sinclair as well as the villages and hamletsSidney 12 Sound Cascade 22 Olga/Artists’ Cooperative in Historic Building Deer Bay Island Island Henry Harbor Island 23 Obstruction Pass State Park r of Orcas Village, West Sound, Island Wescott San Juan 24 Historic Doe Bay Resort Bay Channel both Islands Deer Harbor, Eastsound, and Olga 11 Harney a Open Channel 25 Farms & Farmstands Open to the Public* Bay 26 Art Galleries, Studios & Potteries Open to the Public* on Orcas Island. Portals to the San *Note: Only locations on and near the byway are shown. For a full list 25 of farms, farmstands, art galleries, studios, and potteries contact local Juan Islands Scenic Byway include Shaw chambers (www.sanjuanisland.org and http://orcasislandchamber.com) i Island Cypress Legend the Anacortes Ferry Terminal and Shoal t Bay Island Byway Land Routes (Main Routes) the ferry terminals at San Juan Blakely Byway Marine Routes Island Deepwater Island (Friday Harbor) and Bay Byway Spurs and Loops Swifts 10 SAN JUAN Bay Alternative Bicycle Routes** Orcas Island (Orcas Village), Ferry Route from Sidney B.C. ISLAND Public Lands Lopez Island, and Shaw Island. **Note: Portions are gravel. 9 Vancouver North Strait of Georgia Bay Decatur Grin Vancouver CANADA Bay Island Island Lopez Sound 9 MT. BAKER False VANCOUVER SCENIC BYWAY Bay 5 Lopez ISLAND Bellingham Island CHUCKANUT 20 Sidney DRIVE 9 CASCADE LOOP/ Burrows NORTH CASCADES Bay Anacortes SAN JUAN 20 SCENIC HIGHWAY Victoria ISLANDS 20 Davis CAPE SCENIC BYWAY 536 Burlington Mount Vernon Bay Mud FLATTERY Bay TRIBAL 5 9 SCENIC UNITED STATES Langley Salish Sea WHIDBEY Mackaye Bay BYWAY STRAIT OF ISLAND Harbor JUAN DE FUCA SCENIC SCENIC BYWAY BYWAY WASHINGTON CANADA 9 101 Fidalgo 101 PACIFIC COAST Everett Island SCENIC BYWAY Puget 5 99 Sound 527 2 524 522 104 CASCADE LOOP/ 2 Regional 522 523 405 STEVENS PASS 3 Strait of Juan de Fuca 520 5 520 GREENWAY a Context 90 S 4 99 Bellevue 101 202 a l S e 101 i 90 s h 16 Pacic Ocean 509 18 Sea-Tac Int’l Airport MOUNTAINS

167 18 TO SOUND HIDDEN COAST 99 16 GREENWAY 97 SCENIC BYWAY 705 167 169 Tacoma 90

512 410 5 CHINOOK PASS 8 101 Olympia 7 SCENIC BYWAY 0 2.25 4.5 9 13.5 18 Miles 12 Echo 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 3.0 Lummi

Bay Miles Bay CANADA Moresby

Island H UNITED STATES North Bay

Waldron 26 Island Clark a 18 17 Island Cowlitz Bay Ship 26 Fishing Bay Lummi Stuart President Bay r Channel Island Island 21 26 o ORCAS East Sound ISLAND 20 Spieden 19 Island 24 S Massacre Doe Bay Bay t 16 26 22 James Roche 26 West Sidney Harbor Sound Cascade Sinclair Island Deer Bay Island Island r Henry Harbor 26 Island Wescott San Juan 15 Orcas Island Bay Channel 1 Ferry Terminal 23 Harney a Open 2 Channel Bay 1 2 Shaw Island Ferry Terminal i Shaw 1 Lopez Island 2 Island Ferry Terminal Cypress 14 Shoal t Bay Island Blakely Island Deepwater Friday Harbor Bay 2 Swifts SAN JUAN Ferry Terminal Bay 1 ISLAND 4 3 5 18 2 6 North Bay 25 Decatur Vancouver Grin Island 1 Bay Anacortes Island Lopez Ferry Terminal Sound False Bay Lopez Island

Burrows 7 Bay

Davis 8 Bay Mud Bay UNITED STATES Langley Mackaye Bay Harbor CANADA

Strait of Juan de Fuca S a a l i s h S e 5 Scenic Byway Action Plan Top Priority Projects: The San Juan Islands Scenic Byway group supports implementation of the following projects. Overall Byway: • Wayshowing and Orientation Projects—Implement • Waysides Facilities Improvements—Provide additional two important near-term projects: minor visitor improvements at key waysides along the • The Wayshowing Project will fabricate and install byway (see list at lower left), such as prefabricated concrete wayfinding logo signs along the byway (see page 8 restrooms, picnic accommodations, building rehabilitation, for logo design.) bicycle racks, water sinks, site work and paving, and other types of improvements as needed for each location. • The Orientation Project will develop visitor information and interpretive displays for key sites • Bicycles, Buses, Pedestrians, and County-wide Road along the byway including ferry terminals. The Improvements—Support and promote alternative displays will provide the byway map, stewardship transportation options and uses by visitors and islanders messages, transportation options, and other alike. This includes supporting transit, pedestrian, and important information. bicycle projects (including the vision for more shared-use trails and shoulder widening on roads of both islands). • Telling the Byway’s Stories: Interpretive Waysides Program—Design and install interpretive displays (low • Shuttle Program Feasibility Study/Three Year profile panels, as well as electronic/podcast media) at Shuttle Pilot Program—Pursue funding for and key sites throughout the byway. Minor site improvements conduct a feasibility study to determine the viability of may be included along with the interpretation (see an expanded shuttle program with service on San Juan Wayside Facilities Improvements). This project picks up Island and Orcas Island. The study needs to confirm where the wayshowing and orientation projects above what factors would make transit service expansion leave off, as a Phase II of CMP implementation. Some viable. This would be the first step toward potentially additional scoping will be needed to confirm the specific implementing expanded shuttle service. improvements needed at each site and the estimated • Byway Website, Interactive Map Layers, and costs. Key interpretive waysides sites include: Special Tours—Develop a byway-specific website with byway maps and key sites highlighted, as well as byway San Juan Island project information. The website would doubly serve as • Friday Harbor a promotional tool and a communications hub for the • American Camp Unit of the San Juan Island National byway organization. Historical Park • Lime Kiln Point State Park a.k.a. Whale Watch Park Envisioned Maps Layers/Special Tours • San Juan County Park/Brann Cabin • Historic barns & farms; farmstands/farmers’ markets • English Camp Unit of the San Juan Island National • Art galleries, studios, potteries Historical Park • Bicycling routes and trails • Roche Harbor • Wildlife watching sites • Wayside location(s) for Barns and Farms Tour (such • Historic sites and cultural landscapes as Madden Lane & Valley Church and/or Douglas • Byway Guide and Map (Print Version)—Using same Road at Bailer Hill) graphics developed for the website but adapted for print Orcas Island use, create a byway-specific guide and map to be printed • Orcas Village and distributed throughout the region, including onboard • Deer Harbor the ferries (for card racks). The guide would include • Map Corner content related to sensitive resources in the islands and • Eastsound Village (Waterfront Park & Village Square) the need for preservation and stewardship. • Historic Rosario Resort • Electronic Media—Keep the byway on the cutting edge • Moran State Park of the digital age with interpretive outreach through • Olga Corner web-based programs, podcasts, hand-held applications, • Doe Bay and other opportunities. Pursue funding for an initial

6 cmp executive summary pilot program package focused on a feasible technology method for the byway in the near-term. • Byway “Exploration Hubs”(Co-located and Self- guided)—Install byway displays and provide information about the byway in key locations, working with other partners (agencies and organizations). Key sites include ferry terminals as well as additional exploration hubs in downtown Friday Harbor (possibly the Brickworks site) and Eastsound. • Place Name Signs/Agricultural Signs—Develop a design “low profile” style that blends with scenic qualities of the byway for place name signs and agricultural crop/ product signs and install in phases.

• Additional Byway Branding and Wayshowing— Provide upgraded signing at key intersections along the byway, as well as milepost markers with the byway logo Tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps at the top of Mount Constitution and other elements to strengthen the byway’s identity and visitor wayfinding. • Cattle Point Road Relocation—Support implementation of the Cattle Point Road relocation project being led by San Salish Sea: Juan County and the National Park Service. • Interpretation Programs aboard Ferries—Partner with UW Friday Harbor Labs, WSU Beachwatchers, The • Cattle Point Lighthouse Restoration—Support Whale Museum, Washington State Ferries, and others repair to the base of the lighthouse and formation of a in expanding interpretive programs onboard the ferries “Friends” group to sustain maintenance and operations (developing a program similar to the Alaska Marine efforts at the lighthouse and interpretive area. Highway ferries via the US Forest Service). • Brickworks—Support the Brickworks project as a key • Byway Displays on Ferries—Develop and provide a byway partner with the potential for developing and installing display (with map) onboard the ferries (including San Juan scenic byway related displays and information there. Islands/Salish Sea routes and other routes). • Friday Harbor Interpretation (Historic District • Byway Information on Ferries Video Loop—Seek Tour and Waterfront Tour)—Support ongoing tour funding to purchase a segment on the video loop on the ferry promotions as well as provision of materials and resources to promote the byway and convey key stewardship messages. for the tours, such as additional interpretive and historic commemoration displays and volunteer tour guides. San Juan Island: • Lime Kiln Point State Park (aka Whale Watch Park)— • San Juan Island National Historical Park—Support Support interpretive programs and staffing needs. implementation of the Park’s General Management Plan, including high priority projects such as a new visitor • San Juan County Park—Support the pursuit of funding for contact/multi-modal transportation hub at American implementing improvements to the San Juan County Park. Camp and Cattle Point Road relocation. Continued on Page 8

Ferry crossing the Salish Sea American Camp at San Juan Island National Historical Park

San Juan islands scenic byway — AUGUST 2011 7 Orcas Island: Byway Organizational and • Orcas Village Landing—Support San Juan County and other partners in implementing the proposed Administrative Priorities master plan improvements for the landing area. • Ongoing Administrative Support—Provide ongoing • Map Corner Enhancements—Implement administrative support for the byway including the improvements to Map Corner, with a small restroom part-time coordinator position. (pre-fabricated concrete), waste receptacles, • National Scenic Byway Designation—Pursue and other amenities. the application process for national scenic byway • Moran State Park Interpretive Center—Implement designation through America’s Byways ®. improvements to the summit interpretive center and continue to support the Friends of Moran in programming and operations of the center. • Moran State Park Day Use Shelter—Support State Plan Elements Parks and Friends of Moran in pursuing funding for and implementing restoration of the day-use picnic shelter. • Mount Constitution Road Guard Rail—Support 1. Introduction to the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway State Parks and Friends of Moran in pursuing funding 2. The Vision for the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway for and implementing timber beam and stone column 3. Existing Conditions Analysis guard rail replacement along sections of the road. 4. Assessment of Intrinsic Qualities • Eastsound Village Interpretation and Walking 5. Understanding and Accommodating San Juan Tour Program—Support implementation of a Islands Scenic Byway Visitors walking tour program working with local community 6. Visitor Experience and Interpretation representatives and business owners and provide interpretive information to support the tour. 7. Expanding Multi-Modal Transportation Options for Visitors & Residents • Orcas Road Improvements— Support San Juan 8. Helping Visitors Find Their Way: Wayshowing County in the implementation of the Orcas Road and Signing Program improvements project (MP 3.45 to 3.92). 9. Scenic Byway Design Guidelines • Eastsound Village Square—Implement the 10. Attracting Stewardship-Minded Visitors: proposed master plan and support various projects Marketing and Promotions Program and improvements planned for the village, a key visitor hub on Orcas Island. 11. San Juan Islands Scenic Byway Action Plan 12. Ongoing Byway Management & Public Involvement Scenic Byway Logo The CMP planning process also resulted in selection and design of a logo for the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway. The selected logo is the larger one shown at right. This logo will be placed on signs along the byway. Other logos in the same design style as the scenic byway logo can be developed over The Whidbey Island Scenic time to celebrate special Isleway sign is an example of places and events along the how the selected logo will be byway, as the two smaller displayed along the byway. examples to the right depict.

Otak, an interdisciplinary planning and design firm, is developing the Corridor www.otak.com Management Plan and logo designs in partnership with the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway.

8 cmp executive summary