The Northern Rockies region is home to the largest collection of pristine free-flowing rivers and native trout fisheries left in the lower 48 states. The headwaters of these pristine rivers originate in three sprawling wilderness complexes – the Crown of the Continent along the US-Canadian border; the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem where the Missouri, Snake, and Green rivers are born; and the Salmon-Selway Ecosystem in central Idaho, where endangered salmon and steelhead still migrate 900 miles from the Pacific Ocean to spawn.

These rivers are defined by their WILD, FREE-FLOWING CHARACTER, clean water, intact native fish and wildlife assemblages, and world-class recreation opportunities. All of the native fish species that were present here two centuries ago can still be found here today, including five subspecies of cutthroat trout, bull trout, rainbow trout, steelhead, Chinook salmon, and white sturgeon. Among the iconic wildlife species that call these rivers home are grizzly and black bears, gray wolves, wolverine, river otters, bald eagles, trumpeter swans, moose and elk.

Scott Bosse works with local citizens, outdoor recreationists, businesses, elected officials, and Native American tribes to build support for river protection efforts in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. Scott joined American Rivers in 2009. Prior to that, he spent eight years as Director of Aquatic Conservation for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and four years as Conservation Scientist for Idaho Rivers United. He started his professional career as a fisheries biologist for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Idaho’s Salmon River drainage and the National Park Service in Olympic National Park, Washington. His proudest achievement was spearheading the successful campaign to permanently protect 415 miles of the Snake River and its tributaries around Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

LIFE DEPENDS ON RIVERS: It’s not just that rivers make our lives better. We can’t survive without them.

Learn more and support this work at AmericanRivers.org

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This episode was recorded on location in collaboration with Xplorer Maps. We want to extend boatloads of gratitude to Xplorer Maps for their generous support of this podcast and international outreach programs paired with conservation projects.

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