SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. – A creek on San Juan Island is among three geographic features in the state that have been given new names by the Washington State Committee on Geographic Names.
Rabbit Chase Creek is the name for a 1.4 mile creek west of Friday Harbor.
It’s inspired by the many rabbits that live along the creek that locals used to chase and catch to sell to Seattle meat markets in the 1930’s.
Riley Cove is a small bay on Mercer Island that’s now named for a lifelong resident of the island who was badly wounded on D-Day during World War II.
A famous photo of Huston Riley that day was featured on the cover of Life Magazine, and he also fought in North Africa and the Battle of the Bulge.
Barney Kolker Canyon in Spokane and Stevens Counties is named for an original homesteader in that area.
The commission also will consider naming a small island in the San Juans “Basket Island.”
It’s connected to the already-named Picnic Island during low tide.