• New documentary highlights collaborative efforts to restore vital ecosystem and enhance native fish habitat

Trout Unlimited (TU) has released a new documentary film titled “Horses and Highwater: Restoring Tincup Creek,” which highlights the ongoing restoration efforts in the Salt River Watershed. The film showcases the collaborative work that has been pivotal in revitalizing this critical ecosystem.

The Salt River is renowned for its blue-ribbon fishery, particularly for native Snake River cutthroat and wild brown trout. However, the river’s health has been compromised by habitat degradation, rapid development, impaired water quality, and dewatering.

“This film is about more than just conservation; it embodies community spirit, love for the land, and the Western determination to effect change,” said Tanner Belknap, Salt River Project Manager for Trout Unlimited. “The restoration at Tincup Creek exemplifies a remarkable partnership involving TU, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Wyoming Conservation Corps, and numerous volunteers.”

The film features two significant stream restoration projects at Tincup Creek, focusing on the North Fork Tincup Creek Process-Based Restoration Project, completed in 2024. This initiative involved teams using draft horses and Conservation Corps crews to install log structures aimed at improving floodplain connectivity and stream health.

Key figures in the project, such as horsemen Creed Harwood and Daryl Woolstenhulme, played a crucial role in the restoration efforts. The elevation of the streambed enhances habitat conditions for various native species, including Yellowstone cutthroat trout and boreal toads.

Corey Lyman, Forest Fisheries Biologist at Caribou-Targhee National Forest, reflected on the importance of Tincup Creek, noting its diverse aquatic life and the historical degradation that has occurred over the years. “Trout Unlimited has been a vital partner in restoring over seven miles of the creek,” he stated.

Belknap, who joined TU in 2022, has also been instrumental in forming the Salt River Watershed Group, which comprises multiple stakeholders, including the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and local conservation districts. Supported by $300,000 in Bureau of Reclamation grants, this group aims to enhance collaborative conservation efforts.

“Conservation requires collaboration across state lines and budgets,” Belknap emphasized. “We are grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, which supports our restoration work.”

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has recognized TU’s success in community engagement, awarding over $14 million for various restoration projects in the Wyoming portion of the watershed. “Federal conservation investments have a profound impact on this watershed,” Belknap noted, highlighting the economic and ecological benefits that these projects bring to the Star Valley community.

Trout Unlimited continues to lead the charge in preserving America’s rivers and streams, ensuring future generations can enjoy the natural beauty and resources they offer.

You can find the film on YouTube: “Horses and Highwater: Restoring Tincup Creek.”