The Teton Regional Land Trust's major focus areas for farmland protection include the Teton Basin, the South Fork of the Snake River, and the Henry's Fork of the Snake River. Within our region, the Upper Snake River Valley, these are the farmlands at greatest threat from development.

The American Farmland Trust has recognized farm and ranch lands in the Upper Snake River Valley for both their high resource value and their strong threat to development. Residential developments are quickly usurping agricultural lands throughout eastern Idaho. Over the past 20 years, the acreage developed for new housing almost doubled and since 1994, 10-plus acre housing lots have accounted for 55 percent of the land developed (Farming on the Edge, 1997). The open spaces of farm and ranch lands, the scenic value of the region, and the proximity to premier recreational opportunities makes the farm and ranchlands of the Upper Snake River Valley one of the foremost targets for development. TRLT is working with many landowners throughout eastern Idaho to prevent the conversion of their productive agricultural lands.

Teton County: Teton River Basin Project. The Teton River features extensive farmland areas in the north and west, large wetland complexes and grazing pastures in the valley's center, and more developed land to the east. Farmland dominates the landscape generally, and farming and ranching remain as vital parts of the local economy.

During the last ten years, the Teton Basin has come under increasing development pressures, and has consistently ranked as the fastest growing county (percentage-wise) in Idaho. Teton County, Idaho was the sixth fastest growing county in the nation per capita in the late 1990's. Low-density development is threatening Teton County's best farm and ranchland. Keeping lands like these in working agriculture is critical to maintaining local and regional agricultural economies, plant and wildlife habitat and open spaces. A major challenge in Teton County is the tremendous appreciation of land for development value - no farmland in this county is for sale at farm values.

Bonneville County: South Fork Snake River Corridor Project. The South Fork Snake River corridor from Swan Valley to Menan Buttes is one of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's (GYE) most outstanding fish and wildlife resources. The area also features productive farmlands on the benches overlooking the South Fork. Most of the soils in this extensive agricultural area are ranked by the state as soils of high quality. Primary crops include grains, hay, and potatoes, with limited acreage dedicated to production of native plant seed. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ranked the cottonwood gallery forest along this reach of the river the number one wildlife resource in Idaho. The multi-layered cottonwood forest is home to tremendous avian diversity, including GYE's most productive bald eagle nesting habitat. The South Fork is widely regarded as the finest large native cutthroat trout river in the country. The South Fork is also important habitat for many waterfowl, including wintering trumpeter swans.

Our goal is to protect priority farmland and wildlife habitat and to steer development into more appropriate locations. Farmlands along the river corridor are at notably great risk to development.

Fremont County: Henry's Fork Agricultural Corridors Project. In 1999, the Teton Regional Land Trust and local and regional partners began a long-term effort to protect the agricultural and natural resources along the Henry's Fork of the Snake River. The goal of the Henry's Fork Agricultural Corridors Project is to protect priority farmlands and stream corridors from misplaced residential development and the conversion of productive farmland. In addition, the Ag Corridors Project seeks to enhance Idaho's rural communities and agricultural economy, improve water quality, conserve important fish and wildlife habitats, and provide areas 8for recreational opportunities. In 2001, TRLT received Idaho's first Farm and Ranchland Protection Program grant (FRPP) for farmland protection along the Henry's Fork. This funding enabled protection of both farmland and wildlife habitat along this nationally recognized river corridor.

Farmlands in the Henry's Fork watershed, particularly those along the river corridors, are under increasing threat to development. According to the Fremont County Building Department (2000), the request and approval of building permits in North Fremont County has risen 1,500% since 1992 (from 10 permits in 1992 to 155 in 1998).