JH News & Guide, September 7, 2022
The State of the Water: Protect Our Water JH’s Rally Will Bring Research to the Community
For long-term water protection, Protect Our Water Jackson Hole knows it needs to spur awareness and cooperation among individuals, businesses, elected officials, and visitors.
The event is the Rally for Clean Water, which will explore water quality practices for Teton County, Wyoming. From exhibits that look at aquatic species and a collaboration with Jackson Hole Public Art’s WildWalls mural project, to videos, a podcast, and an address by University of Montana professor Dr. Ric Hauer, Protect Our Water plans a free event at the Center for the Arts to examine riverbed biodiversity and healthy water.
Read MoreBuckrail, September 7, 2022
Rally For Clean Water, tomorrow at The Center
This Thursday, Sept. 8, don’t miss the Rally For Clean Water at the Center for the Arts, hosted by Protect Our Water Jackson Hole.
The free event will be an opportunity to gather as a community and raise awareness, discuss solutions and inspire action for the water quality issues facing Teton County. It may seem daunting, but we are not powerless. We can reduce the pressure on our water resources – but it will take a concerted effort by individuals, businesses, elected officials, and visitors. If we focus on the future, Jackson Hole could become a shining example of forward-thinking water quality solutions. Read on for the schedule of events.
Read MoreJH News & Guide, August 31, 2022
Jackson lawns guzzled more water than ever before this July
Officials: People are the problem, but more infrastructure could help.
As West Jackson became more and more developed, the town of Jackson’s water utility manager, John Ryan, knew it was only a matter of time before water became an issue. The town typically goes from pumping 2 million daily gallons of drinking water in slow seasons to 7 million gallons in the summer. The town’s water system could pump anywhere from 9 to 10 million gallons a day if it “had to.”
But in July, the town was pumping a little over 7 million gallons a day, Ryan said. That’s the most he had ever seen. “We’re not in dire straits,” Ryan said. “But we have the possibility of being that way.”
Buckrail, August 29, 2022
Protect our Water Jackson Hole to host Rally for Clean Water, Sept. 8
Join Protect our Water Jackson Hole for the Rally for Clean Water on Sept. 8 at the Center for the Arts to learn about how we can restore and protect our water resources. This free family-friendly event is from 4-9 p.m. on the lawn, theater, and lobby at The Center and will bring the community together to raise awareness, discuss solutions, and inspire action for the water quality issues facing Teton County.
Read MoreJH News & Guide, August 10, 2022
Editorial: Invest in clean water
We talk a lot about being a sustainable, green or pristine community, with headwaters protections under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. To stay committed to this vision we need to ensure our wastewater is properly treated into the future.
We can pay now or we can pay later, but we’re still going to pay.
JH News & Guide, August 3, 2022
Consultant: Costly mechanical wastewater plant best for water quality
Water quality advocates back $32 million plant, but politicos worry about costs to ratepayers.
“We’re talking about cleaning up wastewater in a community that’s surrounded by wild and scenic rivers and an economy dependent on tourism,” said Scott Bosse, northern Rockies regional director for American Rivers. “I think an investment of $32 million is not too much to ask for a community like Jackson that is so dependent on healthy rivers for its economy and its way of life.”
The current lagoon plant isn’t well equipped to handle nutrients like ammonia in the winter because the bacteria in the lagoons that break down ammonia — separate from the bacteria that break down organic waste — are sensitive to temperature.
“The mechanical plant is the only one that can consistently address ammonia and phosphorous year round,” said Meghan Quinn, executive director for Protect Our Water Jackson Hole.
Read MoreBuckrail, July 20, 2022
‘Tap into Science’: POWJH launches local science event series with Snake River Brewing
As a part of their mission to advocate for protecting and restoring water quality in Teton County, Wyoming, Protect Our Water Jackson Hole (POWJH) has partnered with Snake River Brewing to launch an ongoing event series that invites the community to learn about and engage in local science topics. And, if you want to enjoy an award winning beer while you do so, the Brewpub is the perfect place. The goal of the event series is to promote enthusiasm for science in a fun and casual atmosphere. You don’t have to be a science geek — all you need is a thirst for knowledge!
Read MoreJH News & Guide, June 29, 2022
Human waste in Jackson Hole’s creeks sparks debate
Fecal bacteria is making its way into two of Jackson Hole’s prized waterways.
The question: Where, exactly, is fecal bacteria in Fish and Flat Creeks coming from?
The WDEQ and a University of WY graduate student have separately detected levels of E. coli in Fish Creek, which flows through downtown Wilson, that exceed the threshold deemed safe for human recreation.
The UW student has hypothesized that septic systems and sewer lines could be impacting both creeks, pointing to elevated spring groundwater flows that appear, from data she presented, to be likely culprits of carrying microbial waste from either system into the creeks.
Jackson Hole Daily, June 2, 2022
Sewage is no. 1 source of identifiable fecal contamination in Fish and Flat Creeks
Kelsey Ruehling, a University of Wyoming graduate student, found that human sewage is the greatest contributor to identifiable fecal bacterial contamination in Fish and Flat creeks.
She hypothesizes that septic systems near groundwater flows and aging sewer lines are to blame.
“This all boils down to this really high connectivity between groundwater and surface water,” Ruehling said. “You have to be very, very conscientious of what’s going into the ground that could be transported by groundwater.”
Read MoreBuckrail, May 6, 2022
Protect Our Water JH and Wyoming Outdoor Council: ‘Fund clean water’
There are once-in-a-generation funding opportunities now available for clean water. The American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act contain significant funding dedicated to water and wastewater treatment infrastructure.
To obtain the funding for these priority projects, the Town and the County will need to provide matching funds. Therefore, it is critical that the Town and the County place a Water and Wastewater Implementation measure on the SPET ballot. If this does not happen, the Town and the County could lose out on significant available Federal funding.
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