Location: Henry's Fork of the Snake River, Idaho
Partners: Henry's Fork Foundation, Lighthawk Foundation, Idaho Fish and Game, US Forest Service, local Lodge Owners, and local Fishing Guides
Time Frame: 2008-2011

Project Description
Marine Ventures Foundation (MVF) is collaborating with multiple agencies on the Caldera Restoration Project with the goal of restoring the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River in Eastern Idaho. Voted “Best Trout Stream in America” by Trout Unlimited members in 1998, this stretch of water is one of the most unique and revered fly-fishing locations in the United States. Over the past decade, however, researchers and anglers agree that the health of the river has been in decline. Less fish, smaller insect hatches, and a reduction in the quality and quantity of aquatic habitat are the product of a complex set of factors affecting the river. As a result, the legendary fishing which made the Henry’s Fork such a special place has also suffered.

The role of MVF within the Caldera Project is to provide new and valuable information about the Henry’s Fork and the health of its aquatic ecosystems by conducting a photographic baseline using aerial imagery. Documenting the current environmental state of the river is critical in order for responsible agents to better understand the problem and make more informed decisions concerning restoration efforts. In addition, a baseline allows those agents to more effectively evaluate the consequences of those efforts and adaptively manage the restoration process.

Prior to this project, the best existing aerial imagery of the Henry’s Fork consisted of outdated, low-resolution USGS satellite photos. To improve upon existing imagery sources and help conduct a detailed photographic baseline effectively and efficiently, MVF has developed a balloon aerial photography (BAP) technique which can provide high resolution imagery of the Henry’s Fork. The BAP technique allows viewers to observe important details within the river such as macrophyte cover and riverbed topography much more effectively than using traditional transect methods.

In addition, with the help of the Lighthawk Foundation, MVF flew the entire length Henry’s Fork watershed, from Henry’s Lake to the South Fork confluence, and documented the river and its surrounding environment from the air. Photographic information about the encompassing environment is vital to help understand which outside factors affect the river and what consequences this has on the ecosystem.

Google Earth provides an ideal geospatial interface in which to present this data. The screenshot above displays all the photos which MVF has geo-located into Google Earth along the Ranch. Below are two downloadable .kmz files which provide a sample of the photos taken thus far. (To download Google Earth click here. It is a free program.)

Sample Aerial Photography Downloads(kmz)
• Balloon Aerial Photo Overlays (12.1k)
• Airplane Aerial Photos (7.1mg)

To request the full dataset, please email info @ MarineVentures.org

Read more on our page about history of macrophytes on the Caldera here
Read more about the specific macrophytes and their identificaatioin in the Harriniman's State River section of the Henry's Fork here