Henrys Fork Foundation Inc

A healthy fishery starts with water. The amount of water and the quality of water in the river have a direct impact on fish and insect health, and our fishing experience.Collaborative Water ManagementTrout do not have water rights, so HFF must find ways to work within a system that affords us neither management authority nor decision-making power. What we do have, is data.HFFs science program collects, analyzes, and distributes data on the scale of a small university lab. It is our reputation as a source for reliable data that gets us a seat at the table where those crucial water management decisions are made. It is through partnerships, the Drought Management Planning Committee, and the Henrys Fork Watershed Council that HFF shares daily water reports and custom, predictive modeling to influence management for the benefit of wild trout.Water QualityHFF has also developed one of the most extensive water-quality monitoring networks run by a nonprofit in Idaho. With 12 sondes (underwater data collectors), a real-time data website, and an extensive water sampling protocol, HFF measures water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and water clarity parameters on a daily and weekly basis. HFF also maintains an annual macroinvertebrate study to track aquatic insect population health.FisheriesHFF has completed or funded well over 100 research, monitoring, and restoration projects throughout the watershed. Since our founding, fisheries health, habitat, and biological research have made up the core of our programmatic work, including monitoring fish passage, implementing gill lice surveys, quantifying macrophyte cover, and conducting stream restoration work.The Value of FishingHFF collaborated with nonprofit, state agency, and university partners on a multi-year assessment of the economic value of recreational fishing in the Henrys Fork Watershed to help decision-makers understand the economic contribution of our fisheries to the region. HFF also conducts assessments of angler attitudes to better understand angler values and prioritize future conservation work.The Upper Snake River Farms and Fish ProgramIn the Upper Snake River Basin, agriculture accounts for 90% of water withdrawals. While fish and farms might not seem like a natural pair, bridging the gap between local agricultural producers and the Henrys Fork fishery can bring benefits to water resources and the health of the river at a more significant scale than ever before.HFF and partners are working with major agricultural producers and landowners in our area through voluntary transactions that compensate irrigators for reducing irrigation demand, thus keeping more water in Island Park Reservoir.On-Farm Water ManagementA key tool HFF can use to influence water use is land-lease agreements, including agreements to not divert water from the river. These agreements are actually simpler and more straightforward legally and administratively than leasing water rights.Alternative CropsThe program also incentivizes farmers to plant alternative crops that use less water, use water outside of peak irrigation demand, improve soil health, reduce wind erosion and sediment runoff, and benefit water quality.Aquifer RechargeGroundwater contributions from the aquifer in late summer provide an important component of baseflows, adding cool, clear water when it is really needed. Recharge of the aquifer has been decreasing with changes in irrigation technology, so HFF is working to support well-timed recharge efforts to benefit flows without significant detrimental impact on the day-to-day fishing experience.MonitoringAll of these methods depend heavily on the capacity of HFF and partners to monitor water use to verify that the objectives will be achieved and to guard against unintended consequences.Creating MarketsTo be successful into the future, the Farms and Fish Program must be self-sustaining by creating markets for crops that use less water. The program will assist local entities in building infrastructure that could create a market for high-value, low-water-use crops, like reduced-irrigation malt barley and quinoa, without further incentives. Improvement and Maintenance of Existing Access SitesHFF is committed to protecting public access to the Henrys Fork and its tributaries. HFF works with partners to maintain and improve facilities such as boat ramps, access roads, parking areas, and toilets at existing sites.Securing Permanent Public AccessBuilding on successful campaigns that secured permanent access at several popular sites on the lower river, HFF will continue to ensure that anglers and river users are able to enjoy the Henrys Fork for generations to come.Long-Term ProtectionIn our role as Voice of the River, HFF monitors water rights applications, stream alteration permit applications, and a variety of other legal or administrative processes to determine when action is required and to ensure the rivers best interest is always represented and protected.Riparian Fencing HFFs riparian fencing program was established as a flagship project in 1984 to protect the banks of the river from degradation. In the last 35 years, HFF has continued to protect the famed Ranch reach by repairing and rebuilding miles of fence and dedicating an intern to monitor and maintain fence line.Youth EducationUnderstanding the critical role the next generation of river stewards will play, HFF enhances watershed education in local schools with Idaho Fish & Games Trout in the Classroom program and our very own Youth on the Fly event. Fifth graders learn appreciation for the wild trout life cycle by raising their own from egg to fingerling in their classroom.Internship ProgramHFFs top-notch internship program continues after three decades with individual projects and professional supervision for each intern joining the HFF team. Interns not only contribute to ongoing research and projects, but make crucial field work possible year after year.Graduate Student ResearchHFFs well-respected science and research program is elevated by graduate student research in connection with universities across the country. These budding scientists are the next generation of professionals, answering critical questions about our fisheries and water resources.South Fork Initiative - Why the South Fork?Water management on the South Fork Snake River can directly affect streamflow in the Henrys Fork. The South Fork Initiative (SFI) will provide the opportunity to influence broad-scale water management for the benefit of the Henrys Fork and the South Fork, and maintain a healthy South Fork fishery to help disperse fishing pressure and ensure great fishing opportunities on both rivers.HFFs approach to conservation has always begun with collaboration. There is a great deal of knowledge, expertise, and conservation effort already underway on the South Fork, so connecting organizations and agencies with anglers through outreach and communications is a crucial first step in developing a unified voice for the South Fork.South Fork anglers have concerns about fluctuations in flows, macroinvertebrates and fish populations, summer water temperatures, and fish habitat. HFF has the experience and capacity to help establish time-tested water quality, macroinvertebrate, and habitat monitoring to increase our understanding of the South Fork ecosystem.Tactfully implemented restoration projects are an effective way to boost trout populations and the fishing experience. The SFI will collaborate with partners like IDFG to implement and quantify the effectiveness of restoration projects and management strategies in the South Fork Watershed.