PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Northwoods Project will restore 1.8 miles of the Big Wood River between Adams Gulch and Warm Springs in Ketchum. This reach includes critical floodplain areas that sustain natural river processes, wildlife habitat, and community resilience.

 

By reconnecting the western floodplain, the project will reduce flooding and erosion on the eastern bank while improving groundwater recharge and fish habitat. Restoration methods include engineered log jams, beaver dam analogs, and targeted grading to enhance streamflow and reactivate the floodplain.

 

These efforts will protect nearby properties, revitalize habitat, and strengthen the long-term health of the river - benefiting both wildlife and the community that calls the Big Wood home.

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PROJECT GOALS AND BENEFITS​

• Reduce flooding and erosion: By activating the western floodplain, the project aims to lower flood risks and decrease erosive forces along the river's eastern bank, protecting nearby properties from damage

• Reconnect the historic floodplain: Reconnect the floodplain along a 1.8-mile stretch of the Big Wood River in Ketchum

• Enhance natural river processes: Increasing streamflow in the floodplain promotes natural river functions, such as sediment transport and habitat formation, which support ecological balance, resilience, and biodiversity

• Improve groundwater infiltration: Greater floodplain inundation will enhance groundwater recharge, which helps regulate stream temperatures and maintains healthy aquifer levels

• Provide long-term sustainability: Restoration actions, including engineered log jams and beaver dam analogs, are designed to have a lasting impact, supporting the river's ecological functions and reducing the need for ongoing maintenance

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PARTNERSHIPS​

Initiated by our local chapter of Trout Unlimited, we are honored to partner on such an impactful project. We are working with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) to bring science backed planning, design and implementation to this project. 

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