The project will acquire for protection 22.9 acres of estuary and riparian habitat associated with the mouth of the Skookum Creek and head of the Inlet, in Mason County. This acquisition will protect over 2500' of nearshore habitat and 7 acres of tidal saltmarsh in good condition. The majority of the uplands are in the channel migration zone and are considered riparian habitat. Ten acres of the riparain habitat is in good, forested condition. Skookum Inlet provides rearing and transition habitat for coho, chum and visiting chinook salmon as well as cutthroat and steelhead trout. The project site also benefits migratory birds including waterfowl and shorebirds dependent upon nearshore habitats. Skookum Creek is a Tier 1 priority system exhibiting healthy runs of coho and two fall chum runs. The watershed has one of the lowest impervious surface ratings in South Puget Sound and the biological processes were rated as “good” in the Limiting Factors Analysis. The site is located adjacent (¼ mile) from the 143 acre WDNR Skookum Inlet Natural Areas Preserve.