Project Grant R22AP00152

FRIENDS OF THE TETON RIVER WILL WORK WITH THE TETON WATER USERS ASSOCIATION AND THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT TWO PRIORITY WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROJECTS ADDRESSING WATER SUPPLY NEEDS, WATER QUALITY CONCERNS, AND CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES FOR NATIVE YELLOWSTONE CUTTHROAT TROUT IN THE TETON RIVER BASIN IN IDAHO. THE GROUP WILL REVEGETATE A HISTORICALLY GRAZED HALF-ACRE OF RIPARIAN AREA ALONG THE MAINSTEM OF THE TETON RIVER AND WORK WITH THE LANDOWNER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT LIVESTOCK WATERING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO REDUCE EROSION AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND HABITAT. IN ADDITION, THE GROUP WILL INSTALL A FISH SCREEN AT THE DIVERSION POINT FROM SOUTH LEIGH CREEK, A TRIBUTARY OF THE TETON RIVER, INTO AN IRRIGATION CANAL, WHICH WILL PREVENT FISH ENTRAPMENT IN THE CANAL. SOUTH LEIGH CREEK IS HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST GEOGRAPHICALLYDISTINCT POPULATIONS OF YELLOWSTONE CUTTHROAT TROUT. THE PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY THE 2016 TETON WATER USERS ASSOCIATION WATERSHED RESTORATION PLAN, FUNDED THROUGH A RECLAMATION COOPERATIVE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PHASE I GRANT. IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE EFFORTS WILL BRING TOGETHER DIVERSE INTERESTS TO ADDRESS HABITAT DEGRADATION, SEDIMENTATION, ELEVATED STREAM TEMPERATURES, AND FISH ENTRAPMENT AND IS SUPPORTED BY CANAL COMPANIES, FARMERS AND RANCHERS, COUNTY GOVERNMENT, STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGERS, RECREATIONISTS, AND THE CONSERVATION INTERESTS IN THE WATERSHED.