Progress Indicators

Action Agenda Progress Indicators

Measures of human activities that influence ecosystem health

Floodplains, Estuaries, Nearshore, and Riparian Areas

Floodplains, estuaries, and riparian areas are critical habitats that support the health, growth, and survival of Pacific salmon and steelhead, migratory birds, invertebrates, and shellfish. These highly valuable areas also benefit people. These habitats support the lives and cultural practices of Tribal nations, support fertile agricultural lands, and offer spaces for outdoor recreation.

Success looks like increasing functional floodplain, estuarine/nearshore, and riparian habitat by:

accelerating habitat restoration and acquisition projects,
improving regulatory frameworks and incentives for good land stewardship, and
advancing integrated floodplain management across the Puget Sound region.

The Habitat Restoration Progress Indicators

measure the acres of floodplains, estuarine/nearshore, and riparian restoration activities funded, in progress, and completed,
assess whether the rate of regional habitat restoration funding and implementation is accelerating over time,
track regional progress towards achieving the 2030 Salmon Habitat Restoration Target: by 2030, fund and implement 7,200 new acres of floodplain, estuarine/nearshore, and riparian restoration activities Puget Sound-wide.

The Habitat Acquisition Progress Indicators

measure the acres of floodplains, estuarine/nearshore, and riparian area acquisitions funded, in progress, and completed,
assess whether the rate of regional habitat acquisition funding and implementation is accelerating over time.

These indicators do not tell us how much habitat we are simultaneously losing. However, they help us understand habitat restoration and acquisition for protection, which are critical steps to preserve and improve the habitats we do still have.

Select a Progress Indicator in the table below to learn more.

TOPIC PROGRESS INDICATOR	INDICATOR PROGRESS	TARGET STATUS

TOPIC PROGRESS INDICATOR	INDICATOR PROGRESS	TARGET STATUS

Key results

The region has acquired and restored a significant amount of habitat since 2011.

Since 2011, the region has acquired 16,118 acres and restored 14,986 acres of floodplain areas:
- 11,804 acres acquired and 9,516 acres restored in riparian areas,
- 6,420 acres acquired and 925 acres restored in freshwater floodplains, and
- 785 acres acquired and 2,952 acres restored in estuarine/nearshore areas.
Acquisition and restoration projects have predominantly been implemented in riparian areas.
- Over the baseline period (2011-2024), the region acquired an average of 843 acres of riparian areas each year compared to an average of 459 freshwater floodplain acres and 56 estuarine/nearshore acres each year.
- Over the baseline period (2011-2024), the region restored an average of 680 acres of riparian areas each year compared to an average of 211 estuarine/nearshore acres and 66 freshwater floodplain acres each year.
On average from 2011 through 2024, the region acquired 1,151 acres of floodplain areas each year. Over the same time period, the region restored 1,070 acres of floodplain areas on average each year.

The rate of habitat acquisition has increased over time across all floodplain habitats, though this varies by habitat type within floodplains.

From 2011 through 2017, the region acquired 995 acres of floodplain areas each year, on average. From 2018 through 2024, the region acquired 1,307 acres of floodplain areas each year, on average.
The rate of acquisition in freshwater floodplain and riparian areas has also increased over the baseline period (2011-2024). However, the rate of acquisition in estuary/nearshore areas has decreased over the baseline period.

The rate of habitat restoration has decreased over time across all floodplain habitats and habitat types.

From 2011 through 2017, the region restored an average of 1,186 floodplain acres each year. From 2018 through 2024, however, the region restored an average of 955 acres each year.

What factors affect these Progress Indicators?

Capacity of local organizations.

Local salmon recovery organizations like Lead Entities and regional fisheries enhancement groups play a critical role in identifying and implementing priority restoration and acquisition projects. Additionally, entities like Conservation Districts, non-profits, and government agencies play key roles in supporting restoration and acquisition efforts. These types of projects require ample staff knowledge, capacity, and funding. Growing the capacity of organizations can help the recovery community achieve desired trends in these Progress Indicators.

Local, state, and federal funding for habitat restoration and protection.

Funding via programs including the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, Floodplains by Design, Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Fund, etc. can support the implementation of restoration and acquisition projects. Regional funding sources can also offer incentives for voluntary actions taken by landowners, like establishing voluntary riparian buffers on farmland or compensating farmers for the ecosystem services their land provides. Funding options need to be diverse and flexible across federal, state, and local funding sources.

Additional common barriers to implementing restoration projects.

Barriers impact the ability of Lead Entities to implement restoration and protection projects. For example, trust and participation across landowners, coordination across agencies on land purchases, and access to database technologies impact project sponsors’ ability to propose, implement, and track projects.

What other actions can we take?

It is important to accelerate habitat restoration and acquisition in Puget Sound. However, there are other steps that we must advance to support ecosystem recovery.

Track and evaluate restoration effectiveness, habitat condition, net habitat change, and salmon population status and trends to better understand regional progress improving habitats.
Continue to fund and implement key restoration activities, including fish passage barrier removal projects and instream habitat restoration.
Stop habitat loss and protect what we have by improving land use policy and implementation of the Growth Management Act and the Shoreline Management Act.