Population, planning, and your perspective

Are we full? Should we grow? Let’s talk.

Eastsound, Wa

Hi neighbors, 

We’ve been talking to a lot of islanders lately — across ferry lines, in messy inbox threads, through garden gates, and around kitchen tables — and there’s one question that keeps surfacing in different forms: 

Are we at capacity? Or are we just not managing it well? 

Some people frame it in terms of population. Others talk about trees, roads, water, housing, or power. But it’s all circling the same issue: something’s out of balance, and pretending it isn’t doesn’t make it go away. 

We know it’s not just about carbon footprints anymore — it’s about ecological footprints. Because even the “green solutions” still rely on extraction, energy, and impact somewhere else. So the question isn’t just “How do we grow responsibly?” but maybe, “How do we stop growing in the ways that make everything worse?” 

The magic of these islands has always come from something quieter — the way shoreline villages are tucked into the edges of forest and farmland, the balance of human scale and wild space. It’s not just about what gets built — it’s where and how and how much we build that matters. Reinforcing those historic patterns of development may be one of the last tools we have for keeping this place feeling like itself. 

We already know some of the signs. Wells go dry in the summer. The power grid can’t keep up. Forest regeneration is stalled. The deer are stressed. The ferry is full. And still, more homes are built — often larger, often unaffordable for the people who live and work here. 

And here’s the tricky part: many of the people trying to do the right thing feel silenced by how political everything has become. If you say “limit growth,” some folks hear “no future.” If you say “make more space for anyone,” others hear “open the floodgates.” We need more nuance than that. 

That’s where you come in. 

We put together a short survey to gather your thoughts about population, growth, and the future of San Juan County. Not just because we want to collect data — but because we believe that when more voices shape the conversation, better outcomes are possible. 

Take the survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8w5tQFnxaWasvU3VkLtLYqp3SRY1sHbKDu2JgU7r0gnGVsg/viewform?usp=header 

 
It takes just a few minutes, and it really does matter. 

We're also considering a casual Island Stewards gathering in late May — nothing fancy, just a chance to connect, share ideas, maybe eat and remind ourselves that we’re all in this together. If you can let us know if you’d want to join by email or at the website contact page, and if Olga or Eastsound would be more convenient? 

Island Stewards is built on generations of islanders who have fought to keep this place wild, welcoming, and livable. That legacy is in the landscape, the gardens, Moran State Park, the rocky shore and the trail maps. We plan to keep showing up, not just for today, but for the long haul - 

Let’s make space for real dialogue. Let’s ask harder questions. And let’s stop acting like we don’t already see what’s happening. 

Thanks for being part of this place, 
—The Island Stewards Team 
Rooted here. Planning ahead with Wisdom.