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Island Park Reservoir Oxygenation RFP

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Henry's Fork Watershed

One of the objectives of the DIRTT project is to evaluate a project to oxygenate Island Park Reservoir. This could provide a series of benefits to the Henry’s Fork River downstream including:

  • Reduced algae blooms that contribute to turbidity downstream
  • Reduced nutrient concentrations
  • Create opportunities for expanded fisheries within Island Park Reservoir and upstream; fish habitat increases up to 350% for migratory trout and kokanee salmon.

To evaluate the costs and benefits of such a large project, the HFF is soliciting help from engineering and limnology firms with experience in lake and reservoir management, oxygenation, and aeration. We’re requesting proposals for an initial technical report on the feasibility of such a project, including conceptual design, budget estimates, and an evaluation of benefits. Full details of our Request for Proposals are available for download here. Please distribute widely.

Download Request for Proposal (RFP)

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General
Jasper Davis

Island Park Reservoir Current Conditions (9/4/26)

Why is Island Park Reservoir getting so low? Simply put, this has been an exceptionally low-water year. There isn’t enough natural flow to meet all of the basin’s needs without drawing down reservoirs. Water managers are working together to deliver water that is legally owed downstream while preserving as much as possible for next year. What should anglers expect below Island Park Dam? As Island Park Reservoir drops too low for the hydropower plant to

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Jasper Davis September 4, 2026
Water Quality
Christina Morrisett

September 2026 Water Quality Forecast for Island Park

Photo of Island Park Reservoir taken Friday, August 28, 2026 The ingredients for green algae blooms, the primary culprit for turbid water in Island Park, stacked up one after the other earlier this spring. Warm air temperatures. Low streamflow. Long, sunny days. And an ice-free reservoir 30 days earlier than normal. At the Henry’s Fork Foundation, where we swim in water data daily, we braced ourselves for the water quality worst-case scenario: another summer with

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Christina Morrisett August 31, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Christina Morrisett

FAQ: Island Park Reservoir Water Quality

Island Park Reservoir on June 24, 2026 Questions answered in this article: Why are Island Park Reservoir levels so low this year? Is Island Park Reservoir hyper-eutrophic? Are silt and sediment building up behind the dam?   Island Park Reservoir is the center of the Henry’s Fork universe. Reservoir water quality and quantity shape our fisheries, and your fishing experience. But after a warm winter and lower-than-average snowfall, we’ve received a lot of questions about

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Christina Morrisett August 24, 2026
A river surrounded by snow. There are rocks in the foreground pillowy with snow. The river flows from right to left in the middle. On the other side sits needled trees and a snow covered bank. The photo almost appears to be black and white.
Research and Monitoring
Christina Morrisett

Following the Snowmelt: From Mountains to Rivers

Eastern Idaho just had its warmest winter on record—and a changing climate may mean more warm winters to come. Warm winters have big implications for our snowpack, and consequently, the water that supports our fisheries. How? Snowstorms build mountain snowpacks. When a snowpack melts, some of the water is absorbed by soil, recharging groundwater and giving thirsty plants a drink. The rest of the water runs into rivers and reservoirs. In the winter, our mountain

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Christina Morrisett August 21, 2026