New Orvis Campaign Benefits Idaho's Teton Creek

Spawning water for Yellowstone cutthroat trout is the focus of Orvis‘s latest fundraising efforts. Southern Idaho’s Teton Creek has suffered for decades from in-stream dredging and illegal channelization by developers, and Orvis, in cooperation with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, is hoping an infusion of cash will help start the stream channel and habitat restoration that will return the stream to health.
You can see a summary of the new effort, as well as see a video slide show and listen to a podcast about the project, here.
Read the extended entry for the full press release.

The Orvis Company to Support Teton Creek Restoration Project Customers to Help as Well Through a Matching Campaign and “Round Ups” at Checkout
SUNDERLAND, VT- Friends of the Teton River (FTR) is garnering national attention as the recipient of a challenge grant from The Orvis Company.
As part of a year-long campaign to raise funds for Yellowstone cutthroat trout habitat restoration on Teton Creek in southern Idaho, the non-profit watershed group is featured on a full page in the Orvis spring and summer fishing catalogs and prominently on the Orvis website.
Orvis, which donates 5% of profits to conservation annually, involves their customers in conservation efforts by challenging them to meet a fundraising goal for selected projects. They hope to raise $30,000 for FTR’s Teton Creek Restoration Project from individual donors. Orvis and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will match donor funds, dollar for dollar, tripling individual contributions toward a goal of $90,000.
In March and April, Orvis patrons can contribute to the project via a “Round Up for Conservation” campaign, featured on the Orvis website at www.orvis.com. Internet shoppers can choose to “round up” their Orvis purchase price to the next dollar, with the difference going directly to the Teton Creek Restoration Project.
“We’re excited that a locally important spawning tributary for our native Yellowstone cutthroat trout is receiving national exposure and is a priority for a company as recognized as Orvis,” stated FTR Development Director, Anna Lindstedt. She also noted that numerous stressors have contributed to the diminishing populations of Yellowstone cutthroat trout (YCT) in the region, including habitat degradation, nonnative competition, hybridization, and tributary dewatering.
Historically, YCT flourished in Teton Creek, using the mountain tributary to spawn. However, more than a mile of the creek has been completely altered from its natural state, with little viable habitat, no holding water and no spawning grounds. Over the past 40 years, Teton Creek has been highly degraded by in-stream dredging and illegal channelization by developers. Since the destabilization, a “domino effect” has ensued, with bank loss and erosion occurring in up and downstream directions. Landowners are losing over a foot of bank to the creek each year. This unstable creek section threatens the viability of one of the last remaining fluvial populations of YCT in the Teton Basin.
Funds raised through Orvis will be added to the $320,000 dollars FTR has already raised in grant money and private landowner donations toward stream channel and habitat restoration on Teton Creek. While restoration estimates for completion of the most critical mile-long section are expected to approach 1.2 million dollars, FTR Restoration Director Mike Lien pointed out that “the funding momentum for an enormous restoration effort is underway. People realize that healthy riparian areas and trout streams are an asset for our economy and our community.”
To donate to this project and have that donation tripled by Orvis and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, visit www.orvis.com/conservation.
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James Hathaway
Manager, Communications & Conservation
The Orvis Company
178 Conservation Way
Sunderland, VT 05250
802.362.8525 phone
802.362.8851 fax