Media Contacts
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Megan Grover-Cereda
Director of Marketing and Communications, Rocky Mountains
The Nature Conservancy
Phone: 208-350-2210
Email: mgrover@tnc.org
Young Snake River salmon will have a better start in life thanks to a conservation easement recently secured by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) on the 181-acre Peterson Ranch in the Lemhi Valley. A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement that permanently protects the natural and ecological values of a property. Owners of the ranch agreed to restrict development on their property and committed to engage in significant river restoration efforts on Hayden Creek and the reach of the Lemhi River located on the ranch.
One of the top salmon spawning tributaries in the state, the Lemhi River meanders 60 miles through central Idaho before joining the Salmon River. According to research, a key limiting factor influencing fish productivity in the Lemhi system is the lack of overwintering and summer rearing habitat downstream of current spawning areas. In addition to quality habitat, juvenile fish need specific conditions further downstream to grow strong for their 850-mile journey to the Pacific Ocean. This project is increasing habitat for juvenile fish where they can linger and grow robust before migration, increasing their chances of a successful journey.
“Our ultimate goal is to see more salmon returning to the Lemhi to spawn,” says Justin Petty, program manager for TNC. “That starts with creating the habitat young fish need in their natal stream so that we send them downstream in the best shape possible.”
Quote: Justin Petty
Our ultimate goal is to see more salmon returning to the Lemhi to spawn. That starts with creating the habitat young fish need in their natal stream so that we send them downstream in the best shape possible.
The Peterson Ranch easement is part of a larger project identified by TNC and partners to improve conditions for Snake River steelhead and spring/summer chinook salmon—both designated as endangered species. TNC and the Lemhi Regional Land Trust have completed additional easements on land both above and below the ranch, and active restoration is taking place on the creek and river.
Other key partners on this restoration project include Trout Unlimited, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Governor’s Office of Species Conservation. TNC is grateful to the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund for the purchase of this easement under award number NA20NMF4380252, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 81 countries and territories (40 by direct conservation impact and 41 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.
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