JACKSON, Wyo. — Protect Our Water Jackson Hole (POWJH) and the rest of the Snake River Headwaters Watershed Group (SRHWG) invite community members to Watershed Connections: A Community Conversation, this Wednesday, October 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Virginian Lodge in Jackson.
Since its inception in 2023, the SRHWG has attracted over 100 organizations and 250 individual members – representing government agencies, nonprofits, private businesses, local ranchers, irrigators, universities, and more – to lay the groundwork necessary to ensure that there is clean and abundant water in the Snake River Headwaters watershed to sustain the needs of water users and the ecosystem into the future. Thanks to the vision of Trout Unlimited, which wrote the Bureau of Reclamation WaterSmart grant to create and fund the group in 2022, and the leadership of the Steering Committee – 15 individuals representing the broad suite of group members – the SRHWG has worked to connect, build a knowledge base, engage, set priorities, and take action to steward the river which gives life to the valley and millions of Americans downstream.
The watershed is indeed a special place worthy of reverence and protection. “The Upper Snake River, its tributaries, and the aquifers they feed are the critical arteries of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, providing drinking water, unparalleled recreation, and irrigation for over a million acres of valuable farmlands,” said Aaron Pruzan, Owner of Rendezvous River Sports, SRHWG Steering Committee member, and Board Chair of POWJH.
On March 30, 2009, passage of the Craig Thomas Snake Headwaters Legacy Act added all or segments of 13 rivers and streams in the Snake River Headwaters to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers (NWSR) System. This addition to the NWSR is unique in that it encompasses a connected watershed, rather than just one river or isolated rivers, totaling 414 miles. In fact, Teton County is home to more NWSR-designated river miles than any other county in the United States. Unfortunately, this special recognition does not inherently protect these precious resources from degradation. It is up to the community to defend the “outstandingly remarkable values” they provide.
In this light, POWJH and the SRHWG invite the public to Watershed Connections, an exciting community event featuring a screening of Iconic Rises, a film by Frogwater Productions that tells the story of the Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout and the community-driven conservation effort to ensure its survival. The event will also feature a panel discussion with contributors and the opportunity to meet representatives from many of the SRHWG partner organizations.
In addition to the SRHWG, the community is fortunate to have the Teton County Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP), a county-wide water quality protection plan that addresses the shared values and goals presented in the Jackson/Teton County Comprehensive Plan by coordinating critical research, infrastructure, education, and policy initiatives. The WQMP presents a suite of actions that must be taken to ensure that local water resources remain robust into the future. Some of the WQMP actions are best for local government and nonprofit organizations to undertake, while others depend on an educated and motivated community working together.
POWJH emphasizes that it will take everyone who loves this home atop one of the nation’s mightiest rivers to achieve clean water now and for future generations. Accordingly, the organization is proud to present its Clean Water Guide – A Handbook for Protecting and Restoring Teton County’s Vital Water Resources. The guide leads readers through the watershed’s unique history, ecology, and water quality issues before offering numerous tips on how to be a steward of the Snake River ecosystem. Funding for the Clean Water Guide was provided by a POWJH EPA Environmental Education grant.
Community members are encouraged to join the SRHWG for appetizers, drinks, a stunning film, the opportunity to meet a wide range of community members, and to take home a copy of POWJH’s Clean Water Guide to help protect the one-of-a-kind Snake River Headwaters watershed.
Learn more at powjh.org.
