MYNORTHWEST NEWS

San Juan Islands to become National Monument

Mar 22, 2013, 11:45 AM | Updated: 1:34 pm

The Strait of Juan de Fuca. (Photo courtesy National Park Service/Mike Vouri)...

The Strait of Juan de Fuca. (Photo courtesy National Park Service/Mike Vouri)

(Photo courtesy National Park Service/Mike Vouri)

Nearly one thousand acres of Bureau of Land Management property is being set aside in the San Juan Islands to create a new National Monument.

President Obama will make it official with his signature on Monday. Congressman Rick Larsen has been pushing for the designation for years alongside Senators Maria Canwell and Patty Murray, and Rep. Suzan DelBene.

“What it means is the land won’t be able to be developed,” Larsen said. “It will be preserved in its natural state for everyone to enjoy.”

The designation will preserve the cultural and historical areas of the islands. The lawmakers say it’ll also protect natural resources and diverse wildlife on the islands.

MyNorthwest News

Photo: Lewis and Clark High School students thought quickly to save their track coach's life....

Julia Dallas

Spokane high school students save track coach’s life after his heart stops

Two Spokane high school students used their quick thinking and past training to save their track coach's life last week.

1 hour ago

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

13 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

14 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

16 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

16 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

17 hours ago

San Juan Islands to become National Monument