Acquisition of salmonid habitat in the Lyre River watershed is the goal of this project. In 2014, phase I was completed through acquisition of 280 acres, now known as the Lyre Conservation Area.Habitat types include estuary, nearshore, barrier beach, bluff-backed beach,continuous kelp beds, eagle habitat, small freshwater streams, and wetlands.The 280 acres includes the estuary of the Lyre, it's confluence with Nelson Creek, a 2-4% grade stream that is a tributary to Nelson Creek, and wetlands. In future phases, North Olympic Land Trust will conserve additional privately-owned parcels along the Lyre River, along Nelson Creek, and along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, through fee-simple acquisition or conservation easement. This project will help ensure protection in perpetuity of an intact river system from the mountains to the shore, including a vital estuary and critical nearshore salmon migration corridor along the Strait of Juan de Fuca for ESA-listed Puget Sound Chinook and other salmon species. The bulk of the watershed is in public ownership and the river's headwaters are in Lake Crescent, which is part of Olympic National Park.



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there are a number of restoration opportunities that would be pursued in future phases of this project including undoing the channelization of the lower river and adding large wood to further improve existing salmon habitat.

This project will ensure protection in perpetuity of an intact river system from the mountains to the shore, including a vital estuary and critical nearshore salmon migration corridor along the Strait of Juan de Fuca for ESA-listed Puget Sound Chinook and other salmon species. This project would do so by purchasing 279 acres to protect the Lyre River estuary, marine shoreline, Nelson Creek, and associated wetlands. Much of the property contains intact functioning salmonid habitat, but there are a number of restoration opportunities that would be pursued in future phases including undoing the channelization of the lower river and adding large wood to further improve existing salmon habitat.
Besides the estuary and nearshore, the property contains a relatively undisturbed mature conifer forest and remnant pockets of old-growth trees. A highly productive bald eagle nesting territory with 3 documented nest trees is located along the shoreline of the property. The significant and intact riparian area is important for food chain support, thermal cover, bank stabilization, large woody debris, and the water quality protection it provides. The bulk of the watershed is in public ownership and the river's headwaters are in Lake Crescent, which is part of Olympic National Park. Protection of this estuary will ensure that the entire watershed remains intact and will protect needed habitat now and in the future. Objectives include fee simple purchase of this land from the current owner to protect this magnificent ecological asset forever. This purchase will also allow the first phase of restoration which includes removal of a house located in the nearshore, and revegetating the area which is located near the confluences of Nelson Creek and the Lyre River. There are also a few creosoted logs to be removed.
The protection project will be led by the North Olympic Land Trust, which has a strong record working with landowners to successfully complete acquisitions. Partners include the Lower Elwha Klallam and Makah Tribes, both of which come with strong restoration track records and for whom the property is in their usual and accustomed treaty areas; the North Olympic Lead Entity for Salmon, which well coordinates local salmon recovery efforts; and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, which has long championed protection of this ecologically significant area. The North Olympic Land Trust accomplished similar work