The Hood Canal Plateau project targets acquisition of 604 acres of stream corridors, wetlands, and lakes at the headwaters of the Tahuya River - the largest and one of the most important rivers on the Kitsap Peninsula. This is the fourth phase in a successful, long-term, multi-agency, private-public effort to protect the best remaining habitat for Hood Canal salmonids and other wildlife on the Kitsap Peninsula. The project is sponsored by the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Hood Canal Salmon Sanctuary (which consists of WDFW, UW, DNR, Kitsap County, Point No Point Treaty Council, Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, Great Peninsula Conservancy), and the Hood Canal Environmental Council. Since 1996 HCSS has purchased 702 acres of prime fish and wildlife habitat in this and adjacent watersheds (another 338 acres is being negotiated) using WWRP, SRFB, and local funds. This area provides direct habitat for coho, cutthroat and steelhead, and indirect habitat for threatened Hood Canal summer chum and Puget Sound chinook. This area contains much of the headwaters wetlands upon which the health of the river depends. In addition to these aquatic species, this area may be utilized by several threatened and candidate terrestrial species, including: birds (bald eagles, pileated woodpecker, purple martin), amphibians (western toad and red-legged frog) and mammals (Keen's myotis and Yuma myotis).