Inland Empire Action Coalition used this funding to purchase a 42-acre permanent conservation easement on both sides of 0.26 miles of Coppei Creek, south of Waitsburg, WA. In addition, 0.5 ac of blackberry was removed and over 4 acres of riparian habitat was planted with black cottonwood whips. Coppei Creek is a prime spawning reach for ESA-threatened steelhead. Coppei Creek was identified in the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan and NWPPC Subbasin Plan as a high priority for restoration and protection. This reach is under development pressure. While some other important spawning reaches in the watershed have been severely impacted by human encroachment on riparian areas, there is great potential for Coppei Creek to achieve proper functioning condition and long-term watershed health through riparian restoration and permanent conservation easements. By prohibiting development, buildings, subdivision, grazing in the riparian zone, agriculture, and timber harvest this project will make a significant long term improvement to factors limiting fish production in Coppei Creek. This project adds to a continued effort to restore Coppei Creek; two other conservation easement projects have been completed upstream. Collectively, these three easements provide nearly nine miles of contiguous riparian buffers.