Coastal Watershed Institute (CWI) seeks to conserve the historical west estuary of the Elwha River by working with willing sellers. This proposed reach-scale protection project involves acquisition of fee simple title or conservation easements on up to 6 properties (20 acres) along the Strait of Juan de Fuca and W of the Elwha River delta. CWI will acquire as many acres as can be afforded with proposed funding. The project goal is to protect intact marine shoreline and establish long-term conservation management of the estuary. A companion planning project will investigate restoration alternatives to reconnect the west estuary to the lower Elwha River to benefit all life stages of salmon and the forage fish they depend upon. The Elwha is the highest ranked watershed in the Lead Entity area. It supports ESA-listed Chinook, steelhead and bull trout. The Elwha also supports non-listed coho, chum, pink, sockeye, dolly varden and cutthroat. The Elwha is known for having previously supported legendary salmon runs of the above species. It also supports spawning populations of ESA-listed eulachon and surf smelt, which are vital food sources for salmon. With its two dams now removed, attention has turned to protection and restoration efforts in the estuary to ensure that the watershed has adequate rearing habitat to support and sustain the early life history needs of recovering salmon populations. 96.6% of the Elwha River is under conservation management, however none of the histori