Idaho's South Fork, Henrys Fork, and Main Snake Rivers are imminently threatened by unfettered residential and commercial development. This project is like no other in the west.  Gliding through mountains, canyons, and meadows, and the vast farmlands of the Snake River plains, a 1980 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service evaluation rated the upper Snake Rivers the most valuable, biodiverse, and unique ecosystem in Idaho.  The riparian corridor, lined with commanding cottonwood galleries and a lush shrub understory, sustains a broad variety of plants, fish, birds, and wildlife populations as well as prime farm and ranchland.  It is home for multiple federally-threatened and endangered plant and animal species including the majority of Idaho ’s bald eagle production (with 26 nesting territories), and the yellow-billed cuckoo (a candidate species).  The rivers provide a world famous, blue ribbon fishery, supporting the largest wild Yellowstone cutthroat trout population outside of Yellowstone National Park. In addition to outstanding fishing, diverse opportunities exist for boating, camping, hiking, hunting, and sightseeing; accounting for 335,000 recreational visits per year generating $20 million per year into the local economy.

The Idaho Falls District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), multiple Snake River landowners, The Conservation Fund, The Teton Regional Land Trust,  and The Nature Conservancy work as the core team.  Ad hoc partnerships have been formed with the U.S. Forest Service Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Bonneville Power Administration, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

The BLM formed a partnership with the non-profit conservation groups due to the large geographic scope of the project, imminent threats of subdivision and resort development in multiple areas, and the diversity of landowners along the river corridors.  The partnership maximizes the strengths and efficiencies of each organization to conserve the rivers. The organizations operate independently to accomplish common conservation goals. They collaborate as a team with the BLM to conserve key properties with willing land owners within the congressionally designated Upper Snake/South Fork Snake River Area of Critical Environmental Concern/Special Recreation Management Area Land and Water Conservation Fund Project .