New Year, New Tides!

January 24, 2023 1:30 am
Contributed photo by Friends of the San Juans After the king tide, a lot of microplastics are brought further up into the beach and deposited into nearshore vegetation. You may have noticed an increase in litter along our beaches—please help pick up this litter when you get the chance!

Submitted by Friends of the San Juans.

As we flow into 2023, so do the king tides! A “king tide” is the highest predicted tide of the year at a given coastal location. Also known as perigean spring tides, they occur naturally when the sun and moon align, increasing the gravitational pull on the Earth’s oceans. King tides only happen one or two times per year and can be magnified if they occur during a storm event with low pressure and wind-driven waves.

King tides provide a peek into our future—what will increasing sea levels and the effects of coastal erosion look like in the San Juan Islands? The surge of a king tide points out (sometimes painstakingly) where improved shoreline management might be needed. Keep your eyes out as we continue to have high tides through the end of the month, and observe what happens to near-shore infrastructure when the tide comes in at its highest.

Friends of the San Juans offers technical assistance for shoreline property owners through a partnership with the Northwest Straits Foundation and Washington State’s Shore Friendly program. This free service is with a highly qualified and experienced engineering coastal geologist and shoreline biologist, and takes about 45-60 minutes. They review site conditions and answer questions about geology, erosion, flooding, vegetation, habitat, and more! Following the visit, a summary memo describing current conditions and any management recommendations is discussed.

Marine shorelines are dynamic and ever-changing—that’s part of the beauty of the San Juan Islands! So please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn more about the shoreline in your backyard and how you and all the wildlife that call these islands home can enjoy it most.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation with coastal experts, please email Katherine Dietzman at katherine@sanjuans.org or visit Northwest Straits Foundation’s website.

Contributed photo by Friends of the San Juans Jakles Lagoon on San Juan Island, where the king tides have breached all three lagoons. These lagoons typically have a full bar of sand separating them from the ocean, with a little stream of water going from the lagoon into the ocean.
Contributed photo by Friends of the San Juans Jakles Lagoon on San Juan Island, where the king tides have breached all three lagoons. These lagoons typically have a full bar of sand separating them from the ocean, with a little stream of water going from the lagoon into the ocean.