JACKSON, Wyo. — The Teton County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday to establish a Water Quality Advisory Board (WQAB) and Water Quality Technical Working Group to help strategize and implement projects outlined in the recently created Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP).
Water Resources Coordinator Chris Peltz presented the plan to the Commissioners at the Aug. 26 meeting and brought back an updated plan on Sept. 3. The creation of the Advisory Board will support the implementation of WQMP and help Public Works and the Commissioners conceptualize upcoming projects and policies.
The Advisory Board will focus on big picture and long-term goals, prioritizing human and natural resource health and advising the Board of County Commissioners, giving priority to recommendations outlined in the WQMP. The aim is to provide a public venue where projects, policies or initiatives can be deliberated and evaluated, with a focus on how individual projects might be improved.
In the county’s Sept. 3 staff report, Peltz outlined eight terms for the Board composition, most notably stating that “seats [are] reserved for individuals with a strong interest, knowledge, and significant experience in water quality, hydrology, land-use planning, engineering, public health, infrastructure planning and regulatory understanding.”
The staff report also outlines that the Commissioners, who will interview and appoint the five to seven board members, will strive to include a Town of Jackson resident, current board member of a water and/or sewer district/improvement and service district, and a representative from a non-profit. Terms are three years and board members are limited to serving no more than two consecutive terms.
The Advisory Board will assist Public Works with evaluating initiatives, develop strategic priorities, balance financial trade-offs, make recommendations on projects and create a process for future water quality projects to be evaluated. According to the staff report, “the WQAB could provide recommendations that might reduce costs, identify funding opportunities, and/or coordinate with other projects or initiatives.”
On Tuesday, Peltz asked the Commissioners to consider folks who are capable of the role, approach it collaboratively and think comprehensively about the whole county.
“I have spent a lot of time with a lot of the water districts now, and I will tell you every one of them has unmet needs,” Peltz said. “I’m very sensitive to the notion that folks don’t want to miss out, and so I suggest that we develop this process so we are not chasing a smaller and smaller pile of resources and there is an open and equitable mechanism that can be effective.”
Peltz said he expects projects, initiatives and policy recommendations to originate internally or from a sponsor, which, depending on the project, could be a county resident, water district board member, non-profit organization, government agency or engineering firm.
The other aspect of the resolution created the staff-led Water Quality Technical Working Group, which is limited to staff from Teton County Public Works, Teton County Public Health, Teton County Conservation District and the Town of Jackson Public Works. This working group will differ from the Advisory Board by managing inter-agency communication, coordination, technical assistance and reporting. Staff will be appointed by the Directors of the participating County and town entities.
Public Works Director Heather Overholser noted on Tuesday that her department will begin working with the Clerk’s Office immediately to advertise for the Advisory Board positions and begin collecting applications. She said she hopes the Commissioners will be able to interview and appoint Advisory Board members by October or November.
Peltz joined the Teton County Public Works department in March, filling the newly created Water Resources Coordinator position. He has over 15 years of experience as an environmental scientist, working in consulting, research and project management in both private sector environmental consulting and positions with the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service.
