Project Overview

Friends of the Teton River is dedicated to the development of a scientific understanding and to the creation of educational programs pertaining to the Teton watershed. Also they focus on implementing on the ground projects to improve conditions in the Teton River, its tributaries and wetlands. They further their mission by conducting scientific research about the Teton watershed.

The Jackson Hole One Fly Foundation – National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Conservation Partnership Program is providing funding for this project to improve bank stability and instream and riparian conditions on five selected sites of the Teton River with three different private landowners. The specific objectives include excavating and re-grading eroding banks, re-vegetating banks and creating instream trout habitat. Each of the sites will be monitored post-construction to evaluate strategy success.

Project Status:

The first phase of restoration work, completed in October 2003, on the Teton River sites removed and stockpiled existing bank vegetation and excavated the existing bank to the low waterline. They also constructed two soil terraces by rolling out, staking and wrapping soil lifts with two layers of erosion control fabric and re-graded the disturbed areas to a 4:1 slope and worked with the help from Friends of the Teton River volunteers. They also were able to involve a local 4th Grade Class from the Tetonia Elementary School to plant and fence willows throughout the project areas. Wetland sod, which consists of wetland sedges and grasses grown in a coconut fiber matrix, was then rolled out on each contoured terrace and anchored with wooden stakes. Many local organizations and government groups are monitoring the area to ensure proper care and impacts are occurring.