Wood river land trust- in partnership with the city of ketchum- idaho- will enhance and improve the ecological function of the 65-acre warm spring preserve along the warms springs creek in blaine…

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $3,809,147.32 Project Grant under the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) program (CFDA 15.507) to the Wood River Land Trust Company to enhance and improve the ecological function of the 65-acre Warm Spring Preserve in Blaine County, Idaho. The project will restore 1.3 miles of Warm Springs Creek through instream earthwork to create pools, point bars, and constructed riffles, as well as install woody debris structures to promote in-channel complexity. Additionally, the project will create 9 acres of adjacent floodplain habitat by lowering the floodplain, and revegetate the riparian zones and preserve with low-water native plant species to improve water quality and temperature. The project is supported by the Warm Spring Master Plan and several local stakeholders, including Idaho Fish and Game and The Nature Conservancy. The award period runs from April 1, 2024, through December 31, 2026.

Wood river land trust- in partnership with the city of ketchum- idaho- will enhance and improve the ecological function of the 65-acre warm spring preserve along the warms springs creek in blaine county- in central idaho. Warm springs creek in the project area has been artificially confined- concentrating flow- and creating incision and floodplain abandonment. There is virtually no floodplain connectivity within the northern half of the project reach. The project will restore 1.3 miles of warm springs creek through instream earthwork to create pools- point bars- and constructed riffles- and installation of woody debris structures to promote in-channel complexity. The project will also create nine acres of adjacent floodplain habitat by lowering the floodplain. The floodplain restoration will be complemented by revegetation with low-water native plant species along the riparian zones and throughout the preserve- which will collectively aid in improvement of water quality and temperature of warm springs creek. The project is supported by the warm spring master plan and idaho fish and game- the nature conservancy- and several local stakeholders.