The Green River Huston to Sommers Restoration Project received funding from the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The project will deliver broad community, economic, and conservation benefits to the area.
The Green River between the Huston and Sommers access areas is one of western Wyoming’s most popular fisheries and a priority for restoration in the Pinedale region. While the area supports cattle ranching, cherished wildlife, and a world-class fishery, several sections of the river corridor suffer from degraded conditions that cause erosion, hinder water quality, and decrease local hay production.
That’s why, in partnership with four landowners, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) and Trout Unlimited are restoring four miles of river corridor to significantly reduce riverbank erosion, expand riparian and trout habitat, restore the river’s natural channel dimensions, and boost vegetation along streambanks.
The project – which directly supports the WGFD’s Statewide Habitat Plan, Wyoming’s Statewide Wildlife Action Plan, and Green River Basin Management Plan – will deliver broad benefits. Healthier game and sportfish populations will boost recreational opportunities that drive local tourism and outdoor-based economies in Jackson and Pinedale. For local ranchers, the restoration efforts will increase forage for livestock, helping to reduce their costs and improve the productivity of their lands while providing an important buffer against extreme weather. In addition to improved water quality, the project will also support trout, waterfowl, sage-grouse, and big game species native to Wyoming and vital to the state’s beloved hunting and fishing traditions.
