San Juan Islands National Monument poster: Sentinels of the Salish Sea

Situated in the northern reaches of Washington State’s Salish Sea, the San Juan Islands are a uniquely beautiful archipelago of more than 450 islands, rocks, and pinnacles. Within this area, the San Juan Islands National Monument encompasses nearly 1,000 acres on 75 rocks and islands. Woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands are intermixed with rocky balds, bluffs, intertidal areas, and sandy beaches. This wide array of habitats supports an equally varied collection of wildlife. Blacktail deer, river otter, mink, and a diversity of birdlife—including golden and bald eagles, the marbled murrelet, and the recently reintroduced western bluebird—thrive in this mild climate. Orcas, seals, and porpoises also attract a regular stream of wildlife watchers. With two historic lighthouses and a 12,000-year heritage of Coast Salish communities, the historical landscape is equally evocative. On March 25, 2013, a Presidential proclamation designated the area a national monument, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as part of the National Landscape Conservation System. The best way to see the islands is by recreational watercraft, although some of the islands are accessible by ferry. Inquire before planning your trip. For more information, or to volunteer, contact: Bureau of Land Management San Juan Islands National Monument (360) 468-3051; SanJuanIslandsNM@blm.gov www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/sanjuans

America’s Newest Conservation System Lands of the National Landscape Conservation System, also called National Conservation Lands, encompass nearly 28 million acres of specially designated places under the stewardship of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). They include close to 900 places, such as national monuments, national conservation areas, wilderness and wilderness study areas, wild and scenic rivers, and national scenic and historic trails. National Conservation Lands are designated to conserve the diverse ecological, cultural, and historic resources found within them and are recognized for their recreational and scientific values. While they remain largely primitive and undeveloped, they continue to support traditional activities such as hunting, fishing, and livestock grazing. These lands are a small but important part of the 245 million acres of public lands and 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate that the BLM manages for multiple uses and a sustained yield of resources, such as energy, minerals, forage, timber, and recreation.