STATE & NATION TRAVEL · news
San Juan boaters face dock and pumpout changes as island construction begins
By Staff Writer · Published October 13, 2026
Reid Harbor work starts October 13, with Fossil Bay work following in November. Both Washington marine parks remain open, but moorage does not guarantee easy shore access.
Official announcement: Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission · October 13, 2026
Washington State Parks has announced construction at two San Juan Islands boating destinations: Reid Harbor on Stuart Island beginning October 13, and Fossil Bay on Sucia Island beginning in November. The October 13 release anticipates completion of both projects in February 2027, not a guaranteed reopening date for every individual facility.
The harbors will stay open, and mooring buoys will remain available. At Reid Harbor, however, the agency warns that boaters will be without the dock, pumpout station and easy shore access during the work. Visitors should expect a crane barge, noise and localized closures or congestion at the construction sites.
Reid Harbor's project replaces an aging dock, removes linear buoys and repairs the pumpout facility. The new dock is designed with a flatter incline and decking that lets light reach shallow aquatic habitat. Fossil Bay will gain a new pumpout station anchored into submerged bedrock.
For a quieter stay, the agency points to Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island and the other five bays around Sucia. Those alternatives still require their own navigation and service planning; a usable mooring buoy will not mean the usual landing arrangements are available.
What Travelers Need to Know
Check each park's alerts before departure and confirm your plan with park staff if dock access or pumpout service is essential. The current Sucia alert narrows its construction start to mid-November. Stuart's alert separately lists an October 14–November 23 pumpout closure, while the release describes a broader construction period; do not assume service resumes when that shorter alert window ends.
Bring drinking water. Both parks currently post an October 1–April 15 water shutdown. Use current nautical charts, follow construction-area restrictions and plan waste disposal before reaching a harbor with no pumpout. Moorage fees remain applicable; check the linked park pages for current charges and registration instructions.
About the Location
Stuart and Sucia are water-access marine parks in Washington's San Juan archipelago. Stuart Island's park includes shoreline, primitive camping and moorage around Reid and Prevost harbors and is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail. Sucia's forested island landscape includes sandstone formations and a series of bays used by boaters, paddlers and campers.
The distinction between an island park and a serviced marina matters here. Sucia has no general services, and both parks rely on visitors bringing supplies and taking garbage away. Their docks and pumpouts are practical parts of an island itinerary, not merely amenities beside a road-access campground.