Henry's Fork Challenge

The Upper Snake River Watershed of eastern Idaho and parts of western Wyoming is a vast and diverse landscape that roughly defines the geographical boundary of Teton Regional Land Trust’s service area. It is the home of world-renowned trout rivers, iconic wildlife species, unique plant communities, and scenic mountain ranges that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area each year.

A recent study published by The Sonoran Institute and Montana State University identified factors driving rural development and modeled future growth patterns under four different scenarios in the 20 counties surrounding Yellowstone National Park. Under all scenarios (status quo, low growth, boom growth and smart growth), rural areas will face major land-use changes by the year 2020.

Like many rural areas surrounding Yellowstone, the Upper Snake River Watershed has experienced an increase in residential development that poses amplified challenges to county planners, water users, land and wildlife management agencies and conservation organizations.

Recognizing recent development trends and anticipating future growth within this landscape, a collaborative conservation-planning initiative is underway in the Upper Henry’s Fork Watershed to accelerate efforts to conserve critical open space - rivers, streams and lakes that provide key wildlife habitat and opportunities for continued agricultural lifestyles. TRLT is taking an active role in this planning initiative called the Upper Henry’s Fork Conservation Challenge (UHFCC).

The UHFCC is an ongoing and expanding science-based collaborative seeking to: 1) compile key resource data for wildlife, watersheds, unique or rare plant communities, and current land status; 2) identify key areas that are a high priority for conservation; and 3) develop a multi-faceted strategy to help protect key lands through land-use planning, conservation easements, land exchanges and other tools as appropriate.

The Upper Henry’s Fork Conservation Challenge is a collaborative effort working to preserve the natural resources, open space and economic vitality of the upper Henry’s Fork region of eastern Idaho. Started about a year ago, the coalition has been working hard to build consensus around which lands within the region are most important for conservation. As with many successful collaborations, the Upper Henry’s Fork Conservation Challenge involves a broad spectrum of members including the Teton Regional Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, Henry’s Fork Foundation, The Conservation Fund, the Trust for Public Lands, Heart of the Rockies Initiative, The Sonoran Institute, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Lands, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Harriman State Park, Shoshone-Bannock Tribe, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Forest Service.

Results of this planning effort will help guide TRLT’s conservation strategies to accomplish our mission of conserving agricultural and natural lands and encouraging land stewardship in the Upper Snake River Watershed for the benefit of today’s communities and as a legacy for future generations. ■