JACKSON, Wyo. — Protect Our Water Jackson Hole (POWJH) brings interactive exhibits in English and Spanish and journalist Erica Gies to the annual Rally for Clean Water on Thursday, Sept. 21 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Center for the Arts.
The free, family event also includes food trucks and face painting by Emily Boespflug. It’s an amazing opportunity to engage kids and young adults to learn how climate affects water and about water quality problems across Teton County, and celebrate the power of community to make a difference.
This event will share science-based information about the state of our water and solutions to secure a future with clean water. For long-term water protection, we need broad awareness and cooperation amongst individuals, businesses, elected officials and visitors.
Interactive exhibits in The Center’s lobby
Have your kids touch insects at our “Mighty Macroinvertebrae” station and learn why aquatic insects depend on water quality in freshwater streams. This exhibit introduces students to the link between land use activities and water pollution.
Swing over to the “Poop Pollutes!” station to test your throwing skills and understand why, in our community, bagging and throwing away our furry friends’ poop is an excellent way for every pet owner to help protect our environment!
Next, let POWJH take you on a river walk. We will share an overview of the Snake River Watershed and its importance to our community. We will guide you through Flat Creek, Fish Creek and the Hoback River. We will share their background, the pollution issues they face and offer solutions.
Visit the “Would you drink this water?” station to learn about potential water quality issues in Alta, Hoback, Kelly, North of Jackson, South of Jackson, the Town of Jackson and Wilson. Learn how and why it is essential to test your well.
The “Much Ado About Septic” displays the relationship between two real-life septic systems working to break down wastewater where kids can see how different pollutants function inside a septic system, filter through pipes and are released into the environment. Learn why rich soils are necessary for an effective leach field!
Fill out your Water Bingo card and receive a prize when you visit all seven exhibits, including the “Plants Purify”, “What is Groundwater?”, and “Stream Trailer stations.”
Keynote speaker presentation
Protect Our Water Jackson Hole Executive Director Meghan Quinn will kick off Erica Gies’ talk at 7 p.m. with a discussion about the state of water in Teton County.
Gies, author of “Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge” is an award-winning independent journalist who writes about water, climate change, plants and critters for Scientific American, The New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic, The Economist and The Washington Post.
The concept of “slow water” instills a sense of continued returns for diminishing water resources, advocating for communities to collaborate with water rather than try to control it with infrastructure. The slow water solutions are very place-specific and community-oriented, because they free water to absorb into flood plains, store water for droughts and feed natural systems as it was intended. They center on water’s relationships with rocks, microbes, plants, animals and humans.
There will be book signing in the lobby, before and after the presentation.
Test your luck to win one of the fantastic raffle prizes: Stio’s new His&Hers Skycrest Insulated Snap Shirt; an engraved Protect Our Water 7” Teton Edge Santoku knife from New West KnifeWorks; a Suite Dreams Package at The Wort Hotel; a stand-up paddle board from Rendezvous River Sports; a room and dinner for two at the luxurious South Fork Lodge in Swan Valley Idaho and many more!
The Rally for Clean Water is only possible with the support of event lead sponsor First Interstate Bank and all of our 2023 sponsors: South Fork Lodge, Yellow Dog Fly Fishing, Philanthropy by Design, Fireside Resort, The Wort Hotel, JD High Country Outfitters, Healthy Being Juicery, New West KnifeWorks, Fox Farm Design-Build and Rendezvous River Sports.
For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Dan Oas. Volunteers are always welcome to help make the Rally for Clean Water a success! Email Matt Bambach to sign up for a volunteer shift. Click here to add the Rally for Clean Water to your calendar!
Visit powjh.org/rally for all the event details.
