$1 MILLION for Henry's Fork DIRTT Plan - Henry's Fork Foundation

$1 MILLION for Henry’s Fork DIRTT Plan

Home » Blog » $1 MILLION for Henry’s Fork DIRTT Plan

Photo credit: Charlie Lansche and Devan Ence

The Henry’s Fork Foundation is honored to receive a $1 million federal grant from the US Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program to develop the revolutionary DIRTT Plan: Developing Infrastructure to Reduce Temperature and Turbidity.

Water temperatures and changing hatches are at the forefront of anglers’ minds, and for good reason. Average water temperatures are increasing and may be the culprit in changing hatches. Plus, nutrient levels in the river are looking like the next big issue on the horizon.

It’s time to look at massive-scale engineering solutions, as well as grounded, nature-based solutions. We want to reduce the amount of sediment sent into the river, and to reduce water temperatures flowing through Harriman Ranch.

DIRTT aims to improve water temperatures and turbidity to build resilience for the river and the fish and insects that call it home. This might include variable-elevation withdrawal gates at Island Park Dam, tributary restoration, sediment stabilization, and deep-water oxygenation (adding oxygen to the reservoir for trout).

HFF is uniquely positioned – with the expertise, experience, data, and community – to be a leader in answering the difficult questions being asked across the fly-fishing world.

Categories

Recent Posts

Recent Posts

Research and Monitoring

(Almost) Snow-less Snow Science

As an MSU undergrad studying snow science, a summer internship might sound unlikely. Fortunately, snow is an invaluable resource year-round out here in the west, providing the majority of our water supply. My original project with the Henry’s Fork Foundation was to install snow monitoring stations across the watershed to better capture the spatial variability of its winter snowpack, however funding and approval has been backlogged. Luckily, my mentor ,Dr. Otto Lang, had another project

Sam Pruitt July 16, 2026

Intern

My First Time Fly Fishing

Claude’s secret but likely identifiable fishing spot My first Sunday in Ashton, Claude, the Washington and Lee Intern, did me the great kindness of taking me fly fishing for the first time in my entire life. I am not in any way an experienced angler. I’ve caught one fish in my entire life. I can’t identify it, and I only caught it with the help of my vastly more experienced little brother. Upon arriving here,

Audrey Hunter July 15, 2026

Intern

Balancing Analysis and Adventure: A Week with the Field Work Intern

My name is Kathryn (Kate) Shiffler and I am the field work intern here at the foundation this summer! I am a rising sophomore at the University of Idaho, with a dual major in Conservation Biology and Wildlife Science. Although, from my work here so far, fisheries and aquatic science is starting to call my name. Crazy how one (or half of one) internship can change your mind so quickly! So, what does the Field

Kate Shiffler July 14, 2026

Intern

The Summer I Turned Crispy

Unfortunately, I am a child. I graduated from high school an entire month ago. I was a Senior, with all the absolute power and respect that the rank endows, and now, I am an intern. If I were on a totem pole, I’d be in the dirt. Luckily, there is no real totem pole. Instead, there is an office full of wonderful and supportive people, specifically my mentor, Joe. Despite my inexperience and academic infancy,

Tate Sargeant July 10, 2026