CARIBOU COUNTY — Conservation, mining, and government partners are teaming up to enhance the Upper Blackfoot River watershed — one of the last strongholds for Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the West — while ensuring a working ranch’s viability in Caribou County.

Historic land uses have degraded the Upper Blackfoot River watershed, threatening native fish and impacting water quality, local communities, and the broader ecosystem. But a diverse group of partners is working together to shift that trajectory on Kackley Ranch, a 920-acre property that is owned and cared for by Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust (SSLT).

The approximately $313,000 project focuses on improving Chippy Creek and surrounding riparian habitat while maintaining the land’s agricultural use. SSLT is co-leading the project with Trout Unlimited.

“Ranching and conservation are not mutually exclusive; we believe both aims can complement each other. We can continue Idaho’s rich agricultural legacy while building healthy ecosystems to support the plants, wildlife, water and air that we all care about and depend on,” said Heath Mann, SSLT’s executive director.

The Alvin and Yvonne Kackley family donated the ranch to SSLT in 2024, and Clint and Travis Gilbert have grazed cattle there for approximately two decades through a longstanding working relationship with the family.

The Upper Blackfoot Confluence (UBC), a coalition of mining companies, conservation groups, and local agricultural producers, is the project’s primary funder. Its members include TU, Idaho Conservation League, Nutrien, Simplot, Ruveon and Itafos.

“It’s influential to see different kinds of organizations come together around a common goal and do good work for the watershed,” said Braden Lott, project manager of mining and reclamation for Itafos Conda.

The UBC contributed funding to each part of this project, with additional funding provided by other partners for select improvements. 

“Stream restoration through robust partnerships is the bread and butter behind Trout Unlimited’s success,” said Hannah Murphy, the Southeast Idaho project manager for TU. “We would not be able to pursue projects that benefit the working landscape here in southeast Idaho without engaged stakeholders, willing landowners, and industry supporters.”

Completed improvements benefit Yellowstone cutthroat trout, moose, elk and deer

The Chippy Creek restoration project at Kackley Ranch is already underway, with two key improvements completed this fall.

Wildlife-friendly fencing: Approximately six miles of fence were converted to a let-down design so it can be lowered when not in use, improving wildlife passage and reducing wintertime fence damage. Kackley Ranch provides habitat and migration corridors for elk, mule deer, moose, black bear, as well as numerous birds and other species. Additional funding partners for this portion of the project include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Ruveon.

“At Ruveon, we believe meaningful partnerships are built around shared values and a genuine commitment to the places we call home,” said Kaylee Peck, community relations & communications specialist for Ruveon Soda Springs. “Our partnership with Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust is an opportunity to support practical, locally-driven conservation efforts that benefit wildlife, working lands and future generations.”

Culvert replacement: An undersized, elevated culvert was replaced to improve passage for native fish, including Yellowstone cutthroat trout. This improvement helps better connect fish habitat from Chippy Creek to Lanes Creek and the Blackfoot River.

More restoration efforts planned for 2027

Additional improvements are scheduled for 2027 to reduce livestock impacts on sensitive stream areas, improve riparian habitat and support continued ranching operations.

Off-site livestock water: Water troughs will be installed throughout the property, reducing the need for cattle to access sensitive stream areas while maintaining a reliable water supply. This will help riparian areas recover and improve. 

Riparian fencing and restoration: Fencing will be installed along Chippy Creek to limit livestock access to sensitive riparian areas, and native vegetation will be restored and enhanced. Healthy riparian areas provide habitat for fish, amphibians, birds, insects and other wildlife while helping stabilize streambanks and reduce erosion and sedimentation. Additional funding for this portion of the project came from Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) – Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP).

The NRCS is “interested in integrating conservation of natural resources while keeping agricultural lands productive,” said Bill Kenyon, resource conservationist for NRCS. “Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust shares these interests which has resulted in a great project at Kackley Ranch . . . We are excited to see the final result!”

Through these combined efforts, SSLT, TU and their partners aim to improve stream health, strengthen native fish and wildlife habitat, and support the continued productivity of a working ranch in the Upper Blackfoot River watershed.

Kyle Free, environmental engineer for J.R. Simplot Company, said Simplot is “proud to partner with the (UBC) to support watershed restoration efforts that strengthen habitat, improve water quality, and benefit communities throughout Southeast Idaho.”

Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust and Gilbert Family Farms are also committing in-kind donations to support this project.

In total, 10 entities have come together to make this project possible. 

“We are so heartened by the care for this landscape that has come from partners across various sectors,” said Carly Flandro, communications coordinator for SSLT. “We all share in common a commitment to these Southeast Idaho landscapes that mean so much to us, and we look forward to seeing this project’s positive impacts come to fruition.”