Restoration Projects
Restoring Migration Routes for Trout
One of our primary goals is to improve conditions for trout by improving overall ecosystem health and functionality–restoring habitat, stream flows and water quality–and by making structural improvements in or to the stream, such as installing fish ladders, step-pools, and screens. A healthy population of Teton River Cutthroat depend on migrating up tributary streams to spawn. For tributaries that have intact and productive populations of native trout, restoring connected migration routes free of obstacles, impediments, or entrapment, is how we improve the chances for reproductive success and the persistence of this iconic species.
Irrigation Diversions/Fish Screens
There are numerous canals and irrigation diversion structures on each of the major tributaries in Teton Valley. Several of the diversion structures are similar to small dams that create barriers to fish migrating up and downstream at certain flow levels. Several of the canals in the valley have high entrapment potential, meaning that fish are attracted to the canals and can become stranded, once headgates are closed. Irrigation diversion structures can also be outdated and need improvement to function properly for local irrigators to receive their water right without trapping fish. FTR started working with willing individuals and canal companies in 2006 to replace old diversion structures with fish-friendly headgates, as a win-win for farmers and fish.
Fish Ladders/Step-pools
In 2005, FTR conducted an assessment of potential barriers to fish passage, and prioritized improving those that created a significant obstacle for fish swimming upstream to spawn. Depending on location and feasibility, fish ladders are one kind of structure to aid migrating fish past existing barriers. Where possible, FTR has installed step-pools, which act as a more “natural-looking” fish ladder that creates holding water for trout, provides stream stability/structure, moderates gradient, and conveys sediment and flows.
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.