Bainbridge Island Land Trust used this funding to acquire two contiguous undeveloped shoreline parcels to permanently protect intact nearshore habitat on Bainbridge Island, improve habitat conditions, while providing pedestrian access to the water. The 12.49 acre property includes 5.06 acres of tidelands with eelgrass beds and sandy beach, 550 feet of shoreline with active feeder bluffs, and 7.43 acres of uplands with riparian vegetation, mixed mature forest, and open meadow. Salmon utilize Bainbridge Island nearshore for many of their life stages and three species of forage fish, important food sources for salmon, utilize the preserves intertidal and waters of Agate Passage, Puget Sound. Identified as highly functioning habitat through the Bainbridge Island Nearshore Assessment and prioritized as a "highest conservation priority" for properties supplying sediment sources on Bainbridge Island, it is north and almost contiguous with over 18 acres of permanently protected tidelands owned by Department of Natural Resources. Properties to the south host good quality nearshore. With this purchase the permanent preservation of over 38 acres and 3,000 linear feet of near-contiguous nearshore processes and functions has been achieved. In addition to the acquisition of the property, a restoration plan was developed and implemented. Cultural resources consultation with RCO, DAHP, and the Suquamish Tribe took place to ensure restoration actions took into consideration historic and cultural resources. Throughout restoration implementation the Land Trust consulted with the tribal archeologist at Suquamish Tribe. Additional site evaluation work was performed by vegetation contractors, wetland delineators, coastal engineers, and other consultants to guide the final restoration plan. Getting input from stakeholders, including neighbors was an important element of the project as we balanced the property as a preserve with public access. A wetland delineation was completed. Continued partnership with entities such as USGS who performs annual eel grass studies, WDFW who conducts sea bird inventories, and other volunteers (Bainbridge Island BioBlitz 2015) took place to inform ongoing stewardship actions. Extensive work to obtain all permits needed for the restoration and site improvement work under this project, in addition to any additional site consultation required as part of permitting. Improvements to the property, utilizing both professional and volunteer labor, included implementing a long term restoration plan to treat invasive plants and install native plants to improve riparian habitat complexity and manage storm water runoff, removing debris and hazards, and securing the property through installation of fencing, gates and signage, and repairing existing stairs to the shoreline. With a goal of helping the property function as natural habitat, we evaluated the removal/changes of existing drainage with an engineer and our stakeholder group, but determined the costs and risks associated with that action outweighed habitat benefits. Preparing the property for public use included siting trails away from bluffs and sensitive areas and preparing safe passage to the shoreline (stair repair/replacement). Interpretative signage explains the importance of the nearshore habitat. Two constructed kiosks host signage about the property rules. The property Stewardship and Management Plan, developed as part of this project, outlines actions to ensure restoration activities continue to achieve desired results to manage the property as a preserve. The property was purchased with private donations, which helped secure the land in 2012 prior to obtaining the grant funding from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office and Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Puget Sound Partnership’s (PSP) Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Fund and the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program in 2013. Bainbridge Island Land Trust will own and manage the property. An established stewardship and management fund will help support continued activities on the property.