Chris Boyer/KestrelAerial.com
Teton Creek Corridor Project
FTR has invested over a decade of work and $3 million dollars to research, restore, protect, and improve fish habitat, stream flows, water quality and riparian health in the Teton Creek Corridor.
In 2016, we were excited to announce our partnership in the Teton Creek Corridor Project—a collaborative effort of FTR, the Teton Regional Land Trust, Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, and Valley Advocates for Responsible Development to protect and improve key fish and wildlife habitat, while providing a safe 2.5 mile pathway adjacent to protected/restored areas.
As a project partner, FTR has been able to ensure the goals of the project align with our goals as an organization. We have also been able to leverage partner support to secure more funding for FTR’s ongoing work on Teton Creek including Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout research, stream flow restoration, and habitat restoration.
Chris Boyer/KestrelAerial.com
Chris Boyer/KestrelAerial.com
Chris Boyer/KestrelAerial.com
Teton Creek is the most ecologically significant tributary in the upper Teton watershed. It has also been the most heavily impacted, and it a major conservation and restoration priority. FTR currently has $500,000 in state, federal and private funds for upcoming projects that restore healthy stream function, channel stability, water quality, riparian habitat and connectivity of the Teton Creek corridor.
While FTR’s involvement in this project is focused on improving stream function and fish and wildlife habitat, this project is meant to be an asset for everyone in Teton Valley. This project establishes a new 2.5-mile paved pathway from the Cemetery Road to Stateline Road along the Teton Creek corridor for non-motorized use. The pathway will be subject to a winter seasonal closure to protect critical winter range for big game species. The pathway will create a safe, family-friendly recreational opportunity easily accessible from downtown Driggs, connecting families to nature and providing economic benefits for the entire community.
This project has relied on the joint efforts of will landowners and various community organizations, including Friends of the Teton River, Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, Teton Regional Land Trust, Valley Advocated for Responsible development, Teton County, the City of Driggs, the Community Foundation of Teton Valley, American Rivers, and the LOR Foundation.
Betsy first visited Teton Valley as a 10-year-old from Atlanta, GA, on a family trip west (station wagon and pop-up camper in tow), and knew from that point that the Tetons were amazing and the Rockies were where she wanted to be when she grew up. With a B.A. in Biology and an M.A. in Geography, she enjoyed a career in natural resource management with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Forest Service, the last 20 years in Utah and Montana. In 2022, she and her husband Dan started building their home in Tetonia, moving here in 2023, and are enjoying the outdoor joys of the Tetons and getting to know Teton Valley. She enjoys all things outdoors, particularly hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and trying to dabble in bikepacking; loves traveling although finds leaving their senior tabby to be so hard.
Rafe owns and operates Canewater Farm in Victor, Idaho. Rafe studied business at The University of Georgia and organic agriculture at the University of California Santa Cruz. Rafe brings the unique perspective of the local agricultural community to Friends of the Teton River. He is a farmer and a fisherman who views the Teton River as the lifeblood of the community. He advocates for collaboration between agricultural and recreational stakeholders. He is a proud father of two children, Rowan and Emmalou. He and his family sneak away from the farm any chance they can to camp, fish, ski, bike and explore the beautiful mountains and rivers of the area.