Fox Creek Restoration Project

Springtime, the season when Mother Nature brings everything back to life, has arrived in Teton Valley—hopefully.  This is also habitat restoration season at the Land Trust, when we lend a helping hand to Mother Nature to bring wildlife back to habitat that has been disturbed or degraded.  This spring, Teton Regional Land Trust, partners, and volunteers are again working along Fox Creek to improve in-stream and riparian habitat for Yellowstone cutthroat trout, nesting waterfowl, and migratory waterbirds.  We initiated the final phase of the Fox Creek Restoration Project with volunteers in spring 2009 by planting over 60 native trees and shrubs and 2,200 willow cuttings along about a half mile of Fox Creek.  This spring, over one third mile of Fox Creek will be made more fish friendly by narrowing the creek channel, laying back streambanks, and cleaning spawning gravels.  In May, volunteers will spend hundreds of hours planting over 2,500 willow cuttings and 200 containerized trees and shrubs. This project builds upon accomplishments of previous restoration work on over a mile of Fox Creek upstream of the project area.

The Teton River is considered a world-class fishery and supports one of the most important remaining fluvial Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations in the Upper Snake Basin.  Yellowstone cutthroat trout, listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, is lost from over 60% of its historic range, and its prospects for survival are unsure in much of the remaining suitable habitat.  Fox Creek is one of three remaining Yellowstone cutthroat trout spawning tributaries in the upper Teton River.  Suitable spawning habitat has been on the decline in the Teton River and its tributaries as siltation of spawning beds and large pools occurs.  The Fox Creek Restoration Project will improve in-stream habitat for spawning and juvenile Yellowstone cutthroat trout, improve water quality, and help maintain optimal in-stream temperatures.

Key partners include the Teton Regional Land Trust, landowners, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Watershed Initiative,  Teton Valley Trout Unlimited, Teton Valley Embrace-a-Stream, Jackson Hole One Fly Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Project dates are May 1,2, 8, 9. If you would like to volunteer on this project, please contact Tamara at 354-8939 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it