The Carey Creek Project is located in the Issaquah Creek Basin downstream of SR18 and upstream of the confluence of Carey and Holder Creeks. Carey Creek is identified as a core area for chinook production in WRIA 8. The target area (10 acres) has large amounts of large woody debris (LWD), a wide forested riparian zone, great pool - riffle ratio, an elk herd, and freshwater mussels. This project's goal was to protect through a conservation easement as much of the forested riparian area and adjacent uplands as possible. Carey Creek is a headwater tributary of Issaquah Creek. Carey Creek provides great salmonid habitat conditions to endangered chinook salmon, which spawn in the fall. Maturing second growth forest surrounds Carey Creek contributing to the great instream salmonid habitat. The cool clear water provides suitable habitat for many salmonids including chinook, coho, steelhead, sockeye, kokanee, cutthroat, and potentially bull trout. The importance of protecting this portion of Carey Creek with all the fabulous instream salmonid habitat is that it can serve as a reference site and as a core area from which to add other adjacent properties. The natural resources occurring in this area are identified in the 1993 Issaquah Creek Basin Plan and the 1998 Issaquah Creek Waterways Conservation program. Preserving this initial property on lower Carey Creek will hopefully motivate other adjacent property owners to participate in conservation efforts along the stream.