Upper Snake Collaborative Initiatives

Diminished water supplies threaten Eastern Idaho’s agricultural economy and natural resources. LegacyWorks is steering a collaborative effort between Friends of the Teton River, Henry’s Fork Foundation, The Nature Conservancy of Idaho, and Trout Unlimited to improve water management in the region for the benefit of local farmers and stream health. We are partnering with agricultural producers to devise and enact local strategies that are consistent with and beneficial to state water management goals, enhance economic returns for farms, and reduce demand for water in the region.

Goal

• Maximize carryover in Island Park Reservoir through demand reduction and support flows that meet irrigation and ecological goals from St. Anthony to the confluence.

Strategies

• Provide water managers and irrigators decision support tools, work with farmers to modify agricultural practices, develop grass roots collaborations to devise and implement on-farm practices, and develop water transactions that improve water availability and reduce demand.