The wood river water collaborative, in collaboration with the wood river land trust, located in south-central idaho, will update the big wood river atlas to address the health of the nearby big wood…

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded $199,998 to the Wood River Land Trust Company on June 10, 2025, under the Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CFDA 15.554) to update the Big Wood River Atlas and develop a comprehensive watershed management plan for the Big Wood Watershed in south-central Idaho. The primary deliverable is an updated atlas that addresses the health of the Big Wood River's natural floodplain and identifies potential development risks and mitigation strategies. The project will convene a multi-stakeholder working group including representatives from surrounding communities, Trout Unlimited, U.S. Forest Service and state forest service members, The Nature Conservancy, and recreation groups to ensure diverse input in the planning process.

The grant funding supports the design and planning of shovel-ready projects intended to address riparian habitat restoration, flood risk mitigation, and aquifer function in the region. These efforts directly respond to pressures on the Big Wood River corridor and associated aquifer caused by growing population and diminishing water resources. The award period runs through June 30, 2027, allowing the collaborative sufficient time to complete the atlas update and develop implementable restoration project designs that can be executed by stakeholders following the planning phase.

The wood river water collaborative, in collaboration with the wood river land trust, located in south-central idaho, will update the big wood river atlas to address the health of the nearby big wood watershed S natural floodplain. A growing population combined with diminishing ground and surface water resources have put strain on the big wood river corridor and associated aquifer. The collaborative will convene a working group composed of representatives from the surrounding communities, trout unlimited, state and national forest service members, the nature conservancy, and recreation groups. This updated watershed plan will consider potential development and risk to riparian habitats and design shovel-ready projects to address these concerns. These efforts will address riparian habitats, mitigate flood risks, and support the function of the surrounding unconfined aquifers.