The Friends of the San Juans used this funding for the 2004 Exploratory Pacific Herring Spawning Habitat Survey for San Juan County. This project: · Researched and compiled information on historic and credibly reported potential Pacific herring spawning sites in San Juan County: · Expanded annual survey efforts of Pacific herring spawn habitat in San Juan County, in support of WDFW survey efforts; · Conducted herring spawn deposition surveys at 21 exploratory and four known Pacific herring spawning locations in the county, using standard WDFW protocols; · Recorded additional information on eelgrass plant condition to improve understanding of eelgrass declines occurring in San Juan County; · Compiled, mapped and analyzed all 2004 WDFW and Friends of the San Juans Pacific herring spawn habitat surveys, including exploratory and known sites; · Identified additional research needs related to Pacific herring spawning populations and spawn habitat in the county; and · Shared results with County and WDFW planners, scientists and managers to improve protection of critical forage fish populations and nearshore marine habitats.