A Collaborative, Market-Driven Approach to Water Management
Declines in Teton Valley, Idaho’s underground aquifer and water supply are having a significant impact on local livelihoods, fish, and wildlife. In response, an unlikely and effective partnership of local irrigators, agencies, scientists and conservation groups is finding solutions to change the way we work together and how water is managed to sustain the future of agriculture. The Teton Basin Water Users Association (TBWUA) is a group of agricultural producers, conservation groups, municipal and county leaders, and experts in hydrology and economics of the rural west who are working together to develop a more stable water supply for all users in Teton Valley.
Teton Valley, Idaho
Teton Valley is an agricultural community characterized by iconic open spaces and mountain views. The Teton River basin is a dynamic system fed by snowmelt from the Teton and Big Hole Mountains that surround the Valley. Teton Valley is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and is home to lush wetland habitat and a number of ecologically-significant fish. The Teton River runs through the heart of the Valley and drives the local economy by sustaining agriculture and supporting vibrant tourism and recreation industries.
This remarkable work is thanks to partnerships some would consider unthinkable. Agricultural producers and conservationists working closely on a collaborative solution that brings benefits to landowners, conservationists, as well as the community and watershed at large. Special gratitude to all who make this work possible.
Watch this short film to hear from some of the program’s participants and organizers.
Lifeblood: From Farms to Fish
Partners
Trail Creek Sprinkler Irrigation Company, Garden Water Company, Fox Creek Canal Company, Cherry Grove Canal Company, Individual water rights holders, Teton Soil Conservation District, Friends of Teton River, Henry’s Fork Foundation, LegacyWorks Group, Teton Regional Land Trust, Teton County Farm Bureau, NRCS, City of Driggs, City of Victor, and Teton County, Idaho.
Past Funders
NRCS (through RCPP), Bureau of Reclamation (WaterSMART programs), Idaho Department of Water Resources, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Patagonia, and 1% for the Tetons
