Our Mission
The Snake River Fund’s mission is to promote stewardship of and recreational access to the Snake River watershed in Wyoming, with an emphasis on partnerships, education and public outreach.
Our Core Values
Accessibility – We espouse non-discriminatory, resource-sensitive recreational access to the riparian corridors of the River.
Vigilance – Be they sudden or gradual, we are ever-alert to the opportunities and threats that can change the River’s ecological health or recreational value for present-day users and future generations.
Inclusiveness – We take a leadership role as the voice of the River. We believe the watershed serves a wide community of stakeholders and we work with partners to ensure representation in decisions affecting the River.
Education – We embrace our role as educators on the best practices of river safety and riparian protection. In this role, we are also compelled to shed light on the many values the River brings to the community.
Our Vision
It is our vision that the Snake River watershed will remain a vibrant and diverse ecosystem for many generations to come to enjoy in a responsible manner. Snake River fund is guided by the four pillars of our mission: Access, Stewardship, Education and Partnerships.
In 1998, the Forest Service, in response to increasing user pressure and decreasing funds, proposed to implement a mandatory fee program on the Snake River. In an effort to keep the Snake “fee free,” citizens and businesses approached the Jackson forest office with an unprecedented proposal. With the Bridger-Teton National Forest staff’s endorsement, the Snake River Fund was formed. Since that time, this voluntary, donation-based, grassroots organization has supplied funding to support river personnel, facilities upkeep, river volunteers, safety training, law enforcement, guide education and other river user services. The continuing partnership between the Bridger-Teton and the Fund remains unique in this country and serves as a model to other river systems struggling with management challenges.
As the Fund has matured and grown, it also has become, increasingly, the voice of the Snake River. The Upper Snake River watershed is an extraordinary place with a vibrant history. It is the traditional home of Shoshone peoples and many tribes traditionally traversed the region on hunting forays and trade missions including the Bannocks, Crows, Blackfeet, Flatheads, Gros Ventre, and Nez Pearce. It is one of the few remaining intact riparian ecosystems in the United States, supporting a rare native fishery, undiluted by introduced or exotic species. It supports an abundant wildlife community. Its riparian corridor is an extremely biodiverse. It is one of the jewels of Jackson Hole, of North America, and of the world. It is a fragile place, worthy of our protection. The Snake River Fund has responded to community pressure to become more active in the role of river steward. As such, the Fund has participated in seeking opportunities to formalize protective measures, participate in restoration projects and educate and inform the general public through outreach programs.
Today, the Fund serves the river and its community through impact projects, advocacy work and stewardship. The Fund has helped protect and restore native fisheries, provides educational programs for kids, supports public access projects along the Snake River, promotes a responsible boating culture and more. The Fund helped conceive and build the Campaign for the Snake Headwaters, a wide-reaching effort that protected some 400 miles of streams under the federal Wild and Scenic Act. The Fund also is driving a collaborative planning process for the management and transfer of critical riverfront lands under the jurisdiction of the BLM. To learn more about what we’re up to presently, drop us a line at info@snakeriverfund.org