Enlisting the help of Dave Rosgen, Wildland Hydrology, Mr. Pratt set out to restore this river to what it may have looked like in the 1850's. Equal to the task, Rosgen initiated and directed the largest privately funded river restoration project in the history of the United States.

Upon final purchase of the ranch in 1999, conservation agreements were negotiated with Wyoming, Colorado, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to protect the native Colorado River Cutthroat trout. Army Corp of Engineer permits were secured. Water rights were adjusted, and 22,000 boulders were gathered in preparation of this historic undertaking. May of 2000, seen the arrival of 25 pieces of heavy equipment. The job was to narrow and deepen the entire 16 miles of the Little Snake River and its tributaries that lie within the boundaries of the Three Forks Ranch.