It’s no secret that the Henry’s Fork is a river of grandeur. To those that fish it, it is like a church – a sanctuary that breathes fly-fishing legend. However, the South Fork quietly rumbles in the distance, with striking beauty, and equally legendary status. The South Fork’s deep, ripping currents, and plugging canyon walls hold many anglers fish of a lifetime. However, beyond trout fishing, it is the community deeply rooted in the waters of the South Fork that help bring the river to life.
Even before my first Morning Bites, it was evident how much this river meant to so many people.Afterward, it just solidified it. Total strangers from across the country—I even met a French man who didn’t speak English—all uniting under one river. Hearing the support and feeling the love from passersby truly makes the work that SFI and HFF do worthwhile.
What really stands out to me is the talent of the Henry’s Fork Foundation and the South Fork Initiative. It was clear from the time I arrived here that these folks are ready to work. Their passion for the South Fork is second to none. It is clear how much my supervisor, Devan Ence, cares for and wants to see SFI succeed in every capacity. It makes me want to work that much harder because it is truly a special program. What has been a pleasure for me is his ability to work with people. I recently just finished the TV series, The Bear, and at one point in the show Richie learns how to manage a restaurant and care for guests. One of the biggest aspects of this was remembering how small, minute, and even perhaps unimportant details turn a customer into a friend. The people of HFF and SFI have mastered this.
As an avid-fly angler this internship has been everything I thought it would and more., so far. With a lot of summer left I can’t wait to keep hitting the water in search of the monster trout the South Fork is famous for. It has been a joy, and I am incredibly grateful to those who have gotten me out on the water learning the ropes of the South Fork. Soon I will become competent enough at rowing a drift boat to hopefully guide them to a fish as well!
Our Aquatic Ecology Program Manager, Dr. Jack McLaren, joined Idaho Falls city and FIPS-Mouche leadership at the opening ceremony parade along the Snake River Greenbelt to welcome competitors to the watershed and to make sure conservation was front and center.
Drone photo of Island Park Dam taken on September 9, 2026 Looking Back on September September brought lows and highs to Island Park. Island Park Reservoir started September at 29% full and quickly fell to a low of 12% full on September 19. The rapid drawdown of the reservoir was the result of managers needing to move water downstream to American Falls (to irrigate farms in the Magic Valley with senior water rights). Such low
This story was written by Audrey Hunter (2026 intern) and was originally published in the Fall 2026 Newsletter. It’s no secret that late summers on Island Park Reservoir haven’t been in perfect conditions in recent years. Warm, turbid, algae-filled water plague reservoir recreationists while diminishing water quality downstream. Cyclical algal blooms decrease water clarity and create less-than-ideal circumstances for the reservoir’s flora and fauna. What’s the solution? HFF’s DIRTT Plan. In-Reservoir Oxygenation Nutrients released from
Drone photo taken on September 9, 2026 The Henry’s Fork Drought Management Planning Committee met on Wednesday, September 16 2026 to develop an updated reservoir management strategy. Downstream of the Henry’s Fork watershed, lower-valley irrigation demand over the rest of the season is anticipated to be slightly lower than projected last week, so Island Park Reservoir and Grassy Lake (in the Fall River drainage) do not need to deliver any more water out of the
