This acquisition is part of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust's project to acquire and permanently protect from development nearly three miles of some of the most important salmonid spawning and rearing habitat on the Entiat River. These properties all occur in the 'stillwaters' region of the Entiat between river mile 16 and 26. The Cottonwood Flats Property specifically lies between river miles 17 & 18. This section has some of the most significant wetlands and off channel rearing areas in the Entiat subbasin. Spring and Summer Chinook, Steelhead, and non-anadromous Bull Trout all utilize this stretch of river. This stretch of river is also mostly in private ownership and is subject to rapid residential and recreational development. It is not an exaggeration to say that the future of anadromous fish runs on the Entiat depends on the protection of habitat in this stretch.