The goal of the South Fork Cowiche Creek project is to protect stream and riparian habitat, the streams' channel migration zones, and floodplain functions along the SF Cowiche and Reynolds Creeks. Acquiring conservation easements along the creek on this project site will protect more than four miles (eight miles counting both banks) of critical, high quality stream, riparian, and floodplain habitat and will enhance downstream restoration efforts currently underway on Cowiche Creek (projects downstream will provide full anadromous access to the project site). This project will protect critical habitat for steelhead and bull trout (bull trout population condition and abundance are currently unknown), both listed as federally threatened, and resident species including west-slope cutthroat. Protection of this vital habitat is needed because the landowners' desire to divest themselves of this property due to financial obligations and needs, which makes this land ripe for subdivision and subsequent development. The landowner has signed a letter of intent to sell the property if appraised value meets his needs. The project proposes to purchase 200 to 250 foot conservation easements on both sides of the creek (up to a 500 foot buffer counting both sides of the stream).