Located in the southwest corner of Lopez Island, Mackaye Harbor (which includes Barlow Bay) is one of 4 priority nearshore habitat regions in San Juan County due to multiple forage fish spawning sites (surf smelt and Pacific sand lance), year round spawning activity, and eelgrass (FSJ and WDFW 2004). Mackaye Harbor and Barlow Bay are also home to two of only nine documented Pacific sand lance beaches in San Juan County providing critical habitat for an important salmonid prey species. In 2008, Friends of the San Juans (FSJ) initiated extensive community outreach and scientific research in Mackaye Harbor in order to advance nearshore restoration in this critical region. The Barlow Bay Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project completed multiple recommended restoration projects - improving the overall health and productivity of this important nearshore area by removing extensive toxic creosote pilings and armoring from forage fish spawning habitat. Barlow Bay Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project Accomplishments: 1. Restored water quality, intertidal and beach conditions in Barlow Bay by removing a derelict dock, creosote pilings and degraded rock armoring. 2. Enhanced water quality for critical marine species including salmon, salmon prey and shellfish through removal of numerous creosote pilings and creosote debris from multiple subtidal, intertidal and beach locations within Barlow Bay. 3. Restored documented forage fish spawning habitat through removal of failing and unnecessary armoring at multiple sites. The Barlow Bay Project implemented the top project in the restoration plan, fully removing the derelict dock at the eastern portion of the bay, including removal of 26 subtidal creosote pilings;intertidal pilings and pier decking, removing 1,200 square feet of remaining overwater structure; and full removal of the 26 cubic yards of rock and fill located on the mid and upper beach. Additional restoration projects implemented through this project included removal of 19 inter and subtidal creosote pilings from multiple locations across the bay and re-stacking of fallen road rip rap along hundreds of feet of public and private roadways along Barlow Bay. Restoration actions improved water quality conditions for eelgrass, shellfish and rearing fish, including forage fish and outmigrating juvenile salmon, as well as spawning habitat at a documented pacific sand lance spawning site. Additional project elements included extensive nearshore and coastal wetland assessment and mapping and landowner outreach and engagement, improving technical understanding and community support for future, larger restoration actions in the region.