A message from Protect Our Water Jackson Hole:
JACKSON, Wyo. — We don’t always think about water as a system. But here in Teton County, it flows through every part of our lives—often unnoticed, always essential.
At Protect Our Water Jackson Hole (POWJH), we’ve learned that the best way to protect our water is to see the whole picture and invite others to see it with us. We’re sharing a new framework for understanding our water quality challenges and solutions, grounded in the everyday ways we all rely on water.
Protect What We Drink
Groundwater and private wells supply drinking water for thousands of families in Teton County. But many of those wells have never been tested, and some are already polluted. We’re pushing for stronger groundwater protections, easier access to well testing, and better public understanding of the health impacts of drinking polluted water.
Fix What We Flush
What we flush doesn’t disappear. Outdated wastewater systems are quietly leaching pollution into our creeks, rivers, and groundwater. Algae blooms, high E. coli counts, and polluted drinking water aren’t natural problems. They’re symptoms of a system in danger. We’re working to modernize our systems, advocate for smarter policy, and help residents in high-risk areas get the support they need.
Steward The Flow
When rain or snowmelt runs off our roads, lawns, fields, and driveways, pollution moves. Stormwater picks up fertilizers, animal waste, bacteria, oil, and sediment, and sends untreated runoff straight into our waterways. This is changing the health of our creeks, rivers, and lakes and reshaping our watershed for decades to come. Through land use planning, green infrastructure, and education, we’re looking to keep pollution out of our watershed before it starts.
These three focus areas—what we drink, what we flush, what flows off our landscape—aren’t abstract. They’re deeply personal. Each one presents a challenge we must meet with clear-eyed resolve and community-wide care. From the water we drink to the rivers we love, every drop matters. Water connects us all. Let’s protect it together.
We cannot do this work without the community’s support. Join POWJH in making a difference! Please consider donating to Protect Our Water Jackson Hole through Old Bill’s Fun Run Giving Season until this Friday, September 12 at 5:00 pm, and stand with us to support action for clean water. Together, we can create a lasting impact on water quality for generations to come. To learn more, visit: powjh.org.
