Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) acquired 1.65 acres of Cedar River riparian floodplain habitat at river mile 14 in WRIA 8 (King County) for protection and future restoration. The Royal Arch Reach provides promising habitat restoration opportunities to benefit Chinook salmon. Although the river in this reach is currently confined to the main channel with bank protection, there is evidence of historic side and backwater channels in the floodplain area. Reconnecting the main channel with its historic floodplain will allow development of dynamic, geomorphic processes and will provide excellent opportunities for Chinook spawning and rearing and high-flow refuge for juveniles. This reach migrates outside its current main channel location during some high flow events. Acquisition of this parcel would expand the area of the future floodplain reconnection project that will increase habitat complexity, including offchannel features, large wood, pools and riffles, and improved gravel recruitment. Under its Cedar River Watershed Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) SPU is engaged in land acquisition for salmon habitat protection and restoration in the lower Cedar River, below its municipal watershed ownership boundary at the Landsburg Dam. With this acquisition SPU has acquired 13 acres (11 parcels) in this reach. This acquisition brings the vision of floodplain reconnection one step closer to reality, leaving only 2 key parcels and 3 optional parcels to acquire before commencing the river restoration work.