This project will involve the purchase of the 20.8-acre Sherman property, connecting together 127 acres of adjacent land protected by the project sponsors in 2023 using funding from SRFB, ESRP, and National Coastal Wetland Conservation grant program. Acquisition of the property will move this former estuary  a step closer to future restoration. This acquisition will also build off large scale protection that has been done at Livingston Bay/Port Susan Bay, including 3,218 acres of tidelands protected by the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, nearly 4,000 acres protected by The Nature Conservancy, and an additional 13,000 acres managed by WA Department of Fish and Wildlife.The tidelands at Livingston Bay are identified in the Island County Salmon Recovery Plan as a top priority for protection as they are utilized by juvenile salmon and adults during their migration to and from the Stillaguamish River. Protection of the diked farmlands and historic tidally influenced estuary will protect the potential for future process-based restoration efforts prioritized by the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP). This nearshore project will provide secondary benefits to migratory birds, including large numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds that depend on coastal habitats. More than 30 species of shorebirds commonly use this area during migration or wintering. Between 65-90% of Puget Sound winter populations rely on Livingston Bay/Port Susan Bay for forage and shelter.