Restoration Projects
Restoring our watershed
Every watershed restoration project we do, from planning to implementation, is based on the best science available and in partnership with local stakeholders, state and federal agencies, and our conservation non-profit peers. All of our restoration projects are carefully planned to address watershed issues in a holistic way–to benefit fish, wildlife, and ecosystem function–for generations to come.
Chris Boyer/KestrelAerial.com
Water Quality & Quantity
Water is one of Teton Valley’s most important resources. It supports our agricultural and recreation economies, as well as our abundant fish and wildlife species. FTR works to protect and improve our water quality and quantity, for the lives and livelihoods that depend on it.
Fish Passage & Migration
In Teton Valley, there’s a complex system of canals and irrigation structures humans depend on that can prevent fish from migrating to spawning locations. FTR works with irrigators to improve their infrastructure for better water delivery and fish passage.
Stream Habitat & Function
Some streams in Teton Valley lack healthy stream characteristics, due in large part to human caused disturbances. FTR restores function and habitat in priority stream sections to improve ecologic health and reduce the risks posed by unstable streams.
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.