TU Snake River Headwaters Initiative - Issue #20
Dear Friends,
Hello from Jackson Hole and welcome to the 20th edition of our e-newsletter! We’re glad to have turned the corner on the winter solstice and have been watching the snow in the forecast with glee (and relief).
The winter solstice marks the return of longer days and more sunshine, while the new calendar year is just around the corner. Meanwhile, the water year for the Upper Snake River Basin began on October 1, with reservoirs from Jackson Lake to American Falls now storing water for the 2025 irrigation season. After a slow start to the winter, recent snowstorms have boosted the snow water equivalent in the Snake River Headwaters to 72% of normal. Long story short - we have a ways to go, so… let it snow!
I hope you will enjoy this winter e-newsletter issue, which features our Year in Review report, the Blackrock and Lava Creek projects, a new $14M grant for the Salt River, a TU staff appointment to the water quality board, our new office spaces, the upcoming IF4 film screening, and a year-end giving appeal. Looking back at 2024, I am grateful to everyone that has contributed to these efforts!
Warmest wishes for the holidays,
Leslie Steen
Snake River Headwaters: The Year in Review
What a year it’s been! We are pleased to share our newly-redesigned 2024: Year in Review report. In it, we review the year’s key accomplishments, provide an update on our Jackson Lake flows policy work, recap the 3 on-the-ground projects completed this year in the Buffalo Fork and Tincup Creek, share highlights from our science and engagement work, and thank Cutthroat Club members and other supporters. Let us know if you’d like a hard copy, or feel free to stop by our new office spaces to pick one up!
Blackrock and Lava Creek Projects Completed!
This fall, we completed 2 projects in the Buffalo Fork watershed that have been in our project pipeline for several years. The Blackrock Creek Bioengineered Stabilization and Habitat Enhancement Project, completed in October, rehabilitated 0.25 miles of leveed bank on Blackrock Creek using “bioengineered” instream structures and riparian vegetation to improve fish habitat and protect streambanks. The Lava Creek Fish Passage Project, completed just this month in December, took down two concrete irrigation diversions that were acting as total fish passage barriers, opening up over 9 miles of habitat to fish migrating from the Buffalo Fork and Snake River. We are grateful to the many partners that provided technical and financial support for these projects - especially the Bridger-Teton National Forest for their partnership during a particularly challenging fall fire season.
BTNF, partners announce fish habitat restoration project completion - Buckrail, November 24, 2024
“The Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) and several partners including Trout Unlimited, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Teton Conservation District, recently completed two fish habitat restoration projects that will allow fish upstream access to miles of habitat and stabilize banks within the Buffalo Fork drainage of the Snake River.”
Salt River Gets a $14M Boost from the NRCS
We are thrilled to share that TU has received a $14 million dollar award from the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Regional Conservation Partnership Program - one of only two recipients in Wyoming. Spearheaded by Salt River Watershed Manager Tanner Belknap, our RCPP proposal seeks to restore as many as 15 miles of the Salt River mainstem through habitat restoration, riparian fencing, and fish passage projects, working in collaboration with private landowners and agency partners.
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a historic $1.5 billion for 92 partner-driven conservation projects through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land.”
TU Staff Appointed to Teton County WQ Board
Teton County has formed a new water quality board to help guide the implementation of its newly-minted Water Quality Management Plan and projects funded by a 2022 SPET allocation. Kole Stewart, TU’s Snake River Headwaters Senior Project Manager, has been appointed to the board and has kicked off his 3-year term. We are confident that Kole’s previous background working for Wyoming state agencies in habitat protection and permitting roles will be an asset to the board.
Water quality board gets to work - JH News and Guide, December 18th, 2024
“Teton County commissioners discussed what role the county’s newly appointed water quality board would take at the first-ever meeting of the two bodies Monday.”
We’ve Moved Offices! Open House January 9th
We’ve moved! After many years and lots of memories made in our small office space above the Snake River Angler, we have moved to new office spaces at 960 Alpine Lane #5, right next to Powderhorn Park and behind the REI and Axis Gymnastics complex. We are thrilled to have a dedicated desk for each of our Snake River Headwaters Initiative staff, additional work space for colleagues (and future seasonal staff and interns!), and a conference room for meetings. We are hosting an apres-holiday open house on Thursday, January 9th. Please let us know if you’re able to join us for some hearty appetizers and cold beverages, we would love to see you!
IF4 Film Festival - January 24th at the Center
The International Fly Fishing Film Festival IF4 showcases the passion, lifestyle, and culture of fly fishing with films from all corners of the globe. The Jackson Hole TU chapter will once again be partnering with the Jackson Hole One Fly Foundation to bring the IF4 to Jackson on Friday, January 24th at the Center for the Arts. Raffle and event proceeds will support JHOF and TU projects. Tickets are on sale now - we hope to see you there!
Year-End Giving Supports Home Waters and Local Trout
The Snake River Headwaters Initiative relies on the support of generous donors and a dedicated volunteer base. If you are inspired to make a year-end gift, donations can be made online, or sent to Trout Unlimited, P.O. Box 5002, Jackson, WY 83001 with “Snake River Headwaters” in the memo line. We are also seeking to grow support for our statewide projects and policy work across Wyoming in cutthroat trout country and could use your help - please contact us for more information if interested. Thank you!