A message from Protect Our Water Jackson Hole:
JACKSON, Wyo. — Most of us came to the Tetons for the beauty of the landscape and the abundance of its natural resources. And no resource connects us quite like water. We play in it, on it, and around it almost every day. Could there be a better thing to celebrate?
At Protect Our Water Jackson Hole (POWJH), we believe this community has the will, and the tools, to tackle our most pressing water challenges. Our work is rooted in a deep love for this place and a vision of a future where abundant clean water allows people and ecosystems to thrive. The Town, County, and many other public and private stakeholders are making strides and working together in new and promising ways. But to make lasting change, we have to do more than work—we also have to enjoy and strengthen our connection to the water that sustains us.
In that spirit, join us and Snake River Brewing on Friday, May 30 at the Brewpub for some fun in the sun at our Protect Our Pints Yard Party – a celebration of community, clean water, and good times. Save the Date!
There will be lots to enjoy, from an exclusive small-batch POWJH beer to fresh food on the grill courtesy of Slow Food in the Tetons, live music from Outta Shorts, and a puppy party with the Animal Adoption Center.
The event will also feature a raffle with exciting items like a Kokopelli Packraft, a Dave Hansen Whitewater river trip for four, a day with Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, and other generous prizes from local outfitters and producers. Winners will be announced at 7:00 p.m. — and yes, you must be present to win! Proceeds from the raffle benefit POWJH and its work to protect and restore water quality in the Snake River Headwaters.
Be sure to stop by the POWJH tent for important information on the science and management of harmful algal blooms: one of humanity’s greatest water quality challenges. Algal blooms were once a nuisance reserved for warmer parts of the planet, but over the last few decades, they have spread in geographic range and increased in frequency and intensity. Though the specific reasons for algal blooms vary by waterbody, they are all indicative of an ecosystem dealing with rapid change.
In Teton County, human-induced nutrient pollution and warmer water have created conditions well suited for blooms to occur, turning once pristine cobble riverbeds bright green. From Fish Creek to the Snake River, Palisades Reservoir, and Togwotee Pass, algal blooms are now a regular part of summer and fall. Some of these blooms are dominated by cyanobacteria (a large, varied group of photosynthetic bacteria that emerged over three billion years ago) and release various toxins harmful to people, pets, livestock, and wildlife. Unfortunately, dogs are often the first to come into contact with these toxins while swimming.
While cyanobacteria blooms are not yet a public health crisis in Teton County as they are in many other communities, it is clear that we need to better understand, manage, and mitigate their spread across our watershed. This program is funded by a POWJH Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Education grant and sponsored by First Interstate Bank.
Fortunately, we are not alone. Our neighbors in Big Sky, MT have been working to alleviate recurring blooms and restore the Gallatin River, a nationally treasured fishery, to a healthy condition. If you attended last summer’s talk by Dr. Kristin Gardner of the Gallatin River Task Force, you heard how stakeholders there are working together to take the scientific, planning, and regulatory steps necessary to address their nutrient pollution problem. Teton County’s changing water quality is not unique. Other communities are dealing with similar problems and there’s a lot we can learn as we address local challenges.
Teton County is home to algal blooms, impaired creeks, contaminated drinking water, insufficient infrastructure, and big questions about how we’re going to pay for the myriad of solutions. There has never been a more important time to connect with our special home in the Tetons. Is there a better way to do that than gathering with your community and engaging with its resources?
It’s critical that we work together to ensure that our love for this place translates into vitality for the environment and the health of our public. The Protect Our Pints Yard Party is both a celebration and a chance to connect, learn, and take action. Please join us to raise a pint to clean water, happy dogs, and summer fun.
We’ll see you May 30 at Snake River Brewing! Learn more at powjh.org.
