Fish need water, but adequate streamflows are often the difference between a strugglying and a thriving fishery. Adequate streamflow is critical to juvenile trout. Water is habitat and larger volumes of water create additional instream habitat, particularly along the margins of the river where juvenile trout typically spend the winter.

When the local Fremont-Madison Irrigation District (FMID) requested that ownership of a number of Federal Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) irrigation projects be transferred from the BOR to FMID, HFF and Trout Unlimited worked to include in the federal legislation authorizing the transfer a stipulation that the needs of both irrigation and the wild trout fishery be taken into account in flow management below Island Park Dam. HFF continues to advocate for fish-friendly streamflows through the drought management planning process required by the legislation.

Since the bill passed Congress in 2003, winter flows below Island Park Dam have had both the timing and the volume to protect juvenile wild trout through the critical mid to late winter months, despite several below average water years and the confining limits imposed by Idaho water law. This collaborative process is the best option currently available for ensuring “fish-friendly” flows.

To check on current water flows click here.

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The Stewardship program seeks to ensure the sustainability of the Henry’s Fork ecosystem: its land, water, wildlife, fisheries and aesthetic qualities. The Stewardship program is about people: how they live and recreate amongst and manage and develop the natural resources of the Henry’s Fork watershed.

Click here for more information

• With the assistance of Americorps volunteers and others, you can help inform river users about Aquatic Nuisance Species and encourage fishermen to clean equipment when moving between river systems. www.anstaskforce.gov or www.ProtectYourWaters.net
• Continue organizing the HFF Stewardship Series.

The Henry’s Fork Watershed Council is a grass-roots, community forum that works with citizens, scientists and agencies to highlight the complex watershed relationships in the Henry’s Fork Basin. It also helps to enhance and restore watershed resources where needed, and preserve a sustainable watershed resource base for future generations.

Click here for detailed information about the Henry's Fork Watershed Council.

Rural watersheds throughout the West are experiencing rapid replacement of irrigated agricultural land with suburban, exurban, and resort development, resulting in increased water demand and alteration of traditional irrigation practices. Furthermore, changes in water withdrawal, conveyance and use have altered ground-surface water interactions, exacerbating conflicts among users.

A model of surface and ground water flow will be constructed from existing hydrologic data and measurements of stream and canal gain/loss and will be calibrated to traditional irrigation management conditions. This model will be used to predict future conditions under hypothesized land/water-use scenarios. Decision-makers and stakeholders will be involved throughout the project to ensure that project outputs meet their information needs, are disseminated effectively, and contribute to development of stakeholder-driven conservation strategies.

Click here to learn more about this project.