In Ketchum, Idaho, an extensive restoration initiative at Warm Springs Preserve is now attempting to reverse some of the changes that took place over the years, bringing the surrounding floodplain and stream habitats back into the picture after they were lost. This project, which brings together the City of Ketchum and the Wood River Land Trust, has already reconnected eight acres of floodplain and constructed 2,000 feet of side channels along Warm Springs Creek. It has also introduced close to 40 large woody debris structures and created a one-acre wetland. There is another rather significant part of the effort too, which is to build an upgraded irrigation system that is expected to save approximately 50 million gallons of water every year.Warm Springs Preserve sits at the foot of Bald Mountain in Ketchum, where Warm Springs Creek meets the Big Wood River. While the landscape is now being recognised for its restoration potential, its history has been rather different. The 65-acre property was once a golf course and had faced the possibility of development before the City of Ketchum purchased it in 2022, securing it as a protected open space for the community.According to the Wood River Land Trust’s restoration project information, the creek’s natural course had been altered over the years through flooding and earlier waterway developments. Sections of it were stabilised using rock riprap and fill, particularly near residential areas, while parts of the surrounding floodplain were reshaped and filled. These areas can also support vegetation, wetlands and wildlife that depend on the relationship between land and water. By reconnecting eight acres of floodplain, the restoration project is giving Warm Springs Creek more room to interact with its surroundings, and the reported construction of 2,000 feet of side channels is another important part of this process.One of the project’s most notable additions is the establishment of roughly 40 large woody debris structures that introduce natural materials into the waterway, helping create variations in water movement and more complex stream habitats. Rather than having a uniformly shaped channel, the creek can develop different features, including areas where water slows down, pools form and fish can find shelter. The Wood River Land Trust has identified the improvement of aquatic habitat and the benefits to native trout as important objectives of the restoration. The newly created side channels and woody structures are intended to provide additional habitat and cover, including for younger fish. The project has also created a one-acre wetland, adding another habitat type to the preserve.Perhaps one of the more interesting aspects of the project is that its environmental benefits extend beyond the creek itself. The restoration is not limited to the creek but is accompanied by efforts to also improve the preserve’s irrigation system. This is expected to save around 50 million gallons of water every year. Moreover, the Wood River Land Trust’s project details noted that the existing irrigation system was installed in the 1960s and was deemed to be rather inefficient, but the replacement system is designed to use water more effectively and can even operate at night.When the City of Ketchum acquired the property in 2022, it secured 65 acres of open space that residents and visitors could continue to enjoy. The preserve is used by dog walkers, disc golf players and Nordic skiers, among others. The project also includes plans for improved walking trails, better accessibility, public amenities and native landscaping. Many of the new trails are intended to meet accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act, allowing more people to experience the preserve and its different habitats.The September 24, 2026, restoration-tour listing on Visit Sun Valley described the work as the largest river restoration project undertaken in the Big Wood River basin. It also offered visitors an opportunity to learn about the techniques being used to restore the creek and its surrounding habitats.For Warm Springs Preserve, the goal has been to make more room for the creek. It is an attempt to bring together healthier waterways, wildlife habitats, responsible water use and greater public access.
