Hoback River Restoration

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Protecting the Hoback River as a refuge for native trout.

The Hoback River is considered a yellow-ribbon fishery, supporting healthy populations of Snake River cutthroat trout. However, these populations are at risk due to climate change influences, such as reduced flows and warming water. Several management factors exacerbate the issue, including irrigation practices, lack of stabilizing vegetation along streambanks, and in-channel modifications. These actions allow the water to warm, harming cutthroat trout.

THE PROBLEM

How to keep the river cool.

Concentrated livestock and wildlife use can cause stream-bank instability and allow the river to meander more than it would otherwise. This allows direct sunlight to warm the river water. To reduce the prevalence of unvegetated stream banks, it is important to reduce course changes in the river channel. This protects the vegetated stream banks and increases their stability along the floodplain, resulting in a healthier ecosystem.

THE SOLUTION

Work with partners to accomplish positive changes.

We work with partners to increase riparian vegetation and restore the hydrology of the Hoback River. Actions include installing head gates for irrigation ditches, planting willows and cottonwoods to restore riparian habitats, promoting grazing practices that reduce use of riparian corridors, installing beaver dam analogs and rock structures where needed, educating landowners about river conservation, and participating in the Snake River Headwaters Group.