From its headwaters in eastern Idaho and Wyoming, the upper tributaries of the Snake River boast some of the best fishing on the planet. Downriver and across the state to the Oregon border, the situation is much different. The once-mighty river dwindles to a trickle in places. Hot and full of agricultural and other pollution, the river is plagued by algae outbreaks, killing fish and prompting warnings for humans and their pets to stay out of the water.

In a recent survey, 92% of southern Idaho residents said that water quality of the Snake River is an important issue, but over half of the respondents also characterized the current water quality as ‘excellent’ or good.’ However, the Snake River has been polluted and overallocated for decades, resulting in poor water quality and increasingly declining flows. In some areas, it is now unsafe to recreate in or eat fish from its waters. Additionally, there is virtually no water flowing in some river stretches at times during the year. Clearly, more needs to be done to highlight the plight of the Snake.

What’s Wrong With the Snake?

Experts divide water management into two categories: quality (how clean is the river?) and quantity (how much water is in the river?). While these categories may make things simpler from a management perspective, they don’t reflect the reality that everything about water is connected. The Snake River is a great example of how water quality and quantity are linked and need to be simultaneously addressed to restore the river to a better condition.

The state of Idaho manages the Snake as “two rivers.” The upper Snake is upstream of Milner Dam (located between Twin Falls and Burley in south-central Idaho) and the lower Snake is everything downstream of Milner. This two rivers policy allows for the Snake to literally dry up at Milner Dam. Let that sink in for a minute. The mightiest river in Idaho, and one of the largest rivers in North America, is purposefully dried up every year. Why?

In short, it’s an attempt to satisfy all the water rights that are issued out of the Snake and across the Eastern Snake Plain. More than 80% of these rights are for irrigated agriculture. Spoiler alert: more water rights are issued for water than a typical year provides water for — a situation known as overallocation.

Dilution is the Solution to Pollution — Until There's No River

All along the Snake River, local communities, industries, and people discharge their treated sewage and wastewater into the Snake, relying on the river’s flows to mix with their treated pollution. You may have heard this concept simplified as “dilution is the solution to pollution.” However, when the necessary flows aren’t there, all these discharges contaminate the river. Meanwhile, to try to prevent further contamination, communities (ie., taxpayers) upgrade their wastewater treatment plants to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.

As long as Idaho law and rules allow water quality and water quantity to be governed separately, the never-ending cycle of overallocated water, pollution discharge, and upgrades for wastewater treatments will continue.

Restoring the Snake

ICL recognizes the important role of the Snake River in the life and livelihoods of Idahoans. It is absolutely integral to Idaho’s economy for the predominant agricultural and industrial needs but also for recreation and community livability. We recognize that while the agricultural sector is the source of much of the pollution entering the Snake, Idaho’s farmers can be some of the strongest advocates for caring for the land and water.

ICL’s Snake River campaign is a multi-pronged approach that centers around connecting people and communities to the river in an effort to protect it into the future. We are talking with Idahoans who love the Snake and connecting them with the people who manage it. Together, we will raise our concerns to local, state, and federal policymakers and seek legislative solutions. We will hold polluters responsible for their share of the problem while also seeking out innovative ‘win-win’ solutions that benefit both the river and farmers alike.  We will make it possible for future generations of Idahoans to continue to thrive because of the Snake — in a way people have for as long as people have inhabited Idaho.

Together, we will restore the Snake River in Idaho.

Read our Stories of the Snake and feature stories below!

Stories of the Snake

Stories of the Snake: Where the river begins

Stories of the Snake: A bird’s-eye view

Stories of the Snake: Headed downriver

Stories of the Snake: Providing for generations

Stories of the Snake: Climbing through history

Stories of the Snake: A precious resource since time immemorial

Adventure Blogs

Hiking the South Hills: Appreciating Rock Creek’s Origins

Beat the heat: What to know about kayaking to Pillar and Shoshone Falls

Out of this world: Hidden treasures of the Snake River Plain

Malad Gorge: Hidden in plain sight

Hagerman WMA: A birdwatcher’s paradise

Adventures among the hidden gems of the Snake River Canyon

Exploring the Snake River Canyon: Blue Heart Springs

Exploring the raging waters of Box Canyon Springs

Spring magic at the Little City of Rocks

Farm Series

Wild Spaces Farm, a testimony: Bigger does not equal better

Farm Feature: Reciprocity & Regenerative Agriculture at Peaceful Belly Farm

Regenerative agriculture: The future of Idaho food

Regenerative agriculture in practice: Touring Ernie’s Organics

Groundwater Series

Idaho’s groundwater: A precious resource

The power of water: Making the Magic Valley magic

Groundwater magic: Hidden oases of the Snake River region

Speak up for Clean Water!

The Snake River is far too important to allow it to continue to be degraded in a manner that will have lasting effects on our economy, community health, fisheries, and wildlife. Take action and let your state legislators know that you want to see a cleaner Snake River.


Stay Safe - Avoid Toxic Algae!

When conditions are ripe, populations of toxic algae have the potential to explode, producing potentially fatal cyanotoxins that can cause severe illness or death from direct contact, ingestion, and even exposure to wind-borne spray. These outbreaks are also referred to as HABs — harmful algal blooms. Learn how to stay safe from and report these harmful outbreaks.


Sign Up for Snake River Campaign Updates!

Stay up to date on the latest Snake River news with a bi-monthly update. We’ll let you know how you can help, and together, we can save the Snake River.

ICL's Snake River Work

ICL's 2021 groundwater report

The Idaho Conservation League’s latest groundwater report details a continuing trend of poor water quality in the Magic Valley. These findings solidify the serious concerns raised by ICL’s previous groundwater reports that the drinking water source for more than 300,000 Idahoans – the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) – is significantly degraded.