Accelerating restoration and acquisition efforts in floodplains is a key strategy for Puget Sound recovery. Floodplains provide invaluable ecosystem services including critical habitat for many plants and animals including Pacific salmon, protection from damaging floods, and improvements to water quality. They also support human health and well-being through recreational opportunities and economically valuable farmlands. Climate change and population growth and development pressure continue to modify floodplains. 

This Progress Indicator tracks the cumulative acreage of floodplains protected from development through completed Lead Entity acquisition projects across Puget Sound. Lead entities are local, citizen-based, organizations that coordinate salmon recovery efforts in their local watersheds. Lead entities work with local and state agencies, tribes, citizens, and other community groups to ensure that salmon recovery actions, including habitat restoration efforts, are implemented.

The data collected for this Progress Indicator illustrate progress in accelerating funding and implementation of floodplain acquisition efforts. 

This Progress Indicator is in development. 

This Progress Indicator is currently under development.