This spring, you are invited to take part in the 2026 Spring Great Islands Clean-Up on Saturday, April 18. Each year, hundreds of volunteers come together to care for the places we love. Every piece of litter removed helps keep plastics out of local waterways, protects wildlife, and keeps shorelines healthy for future generations. 

“The health of the Salish Sea depends on all of us,” says Katie Johnson, Marine Project Coordinator for San Juan County. “When our community shows up, we can make a real difference. Every volunteer and every piece of trash collected helps protect the wildlife, waters, and shorelines that define life in the San Juan Islands.” 
 

Jason Toft is a principal research scientist at the University of Washington in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. As the lead for the Wetland Ecosystem Team, he has focused on the effectiveness of nearshore restoration and impacts of shoreline armoring in Puget Sound. The ecological interactions of juvenile salmon and invertebrates with estuarine and marine systems is the underlying framework for most of his research. This includes function of natural habitats, such as bull kelp and feeder bluffs. In addition to field-based research, he has also helped establish standardized protocols as part of the Shoreline Monitoring Database and coordinates the PSEMP Nearshore work group to increase communication on nearshore issues in Puget Sound.

Jason received his MS at UW in 2000 and never left, previously working at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and has a BS from Brown University. He really enjoys exploring beaches and the interactions of humans with nature, oftentimes trying to keep up with his kids.

Jason shared, "I’m excited to join the Science Advisory Committee and look forward to promoting coordination across our various groups, we have a lot to learn from each other!"