THE SNAKE RIVER HEADWATERS: CLEAN, CLEAR, AND COLD?

MATT BAMBACH

Originating north of our community in the Teton Wilderness, the mighty Snake River brings life to our valley. The Snake River Headwaters (“Headwaters”) contain some of the healthiest trout fisheries and most intact streams left in the lower 48 states, which provide unparalleled recreational opportunities for residents and millions of tourists each year. These water bodies were nationally recognized by the Craig Thomas Snake Headwaters Legacy Act of 2008, which designated segments from thirteen of our rivers and streams under the Wild and Scenic Rivers System for their outstandingly remarkable values.

We are fortunate to live where we do; there is no community impeding or polluting the water upstream from us. However, due to Wyoming’s adoption of the Snake River Compact in 1949, 96% of the water moving through the Snake is owned and allocated to downstream users. In recent years, upstream storage has been impacted by widespread drought. At present, Jackson Lake is 18% full and Palisades Reservoir is only 10% full. Along with the drought, our water use has also intensified. This past summer, overnight irrigation was at times so heavily used that the Town asked residents at one well to cut back use to ensure there would be adequate water pressure in case of a firefighting emergency.

Water use has a direct impact on our aquifer, which deserves the utmost respect. The Snake River Aquifer (“Aquifer”) was officially recognized as a Sole Source Aquifer by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1991 as the only viable drinking water source for the residents of Teton County. Due to the high porosity of the cobble and gravel beneath our feet, surface and groundwater are inextricably linked. Historically, the vast amount of water moving through our Aquifer acted as an effective buffer from the negative impacts of development. However, we are now experiencing changes that demand our attention and demonstrate the

Chase Krumholz

increasing fragility of our visible and invisible river.

Is it Clean?

Three important contaminants to understand are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), nutrients, and fecal bacteria. PFAS are a widely-used suite of thousands of chemicals that break down very slowly and have been linked to harmful health effects. Due to their required use of Aqueous Film Forming Foams, the JH Airport introduced a plume of these contaminants into the soil and Aquifer. PFAS are a relatively new contaminant of great concern and public health research (including detection, toxicity, and remediation) is still developing. Most county residents use septic tanks to manage their wastewater. Perched in the porous and shallow unsaturated zone, these septic systems often do not have adequate soil conditions to properly treat wastewater. This results in effluent entering our Aquifer and has led to unsafe nitrate concentrations in residents’ drinking water for years. Changing salinity and pH regimes have been shown to interact with nutrient cycling processes (e.g. nitrate/nitrite, ammonia/ ammonium, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus) to further impact water quality. Although nutrient pollution has many potential sources, domesticated animal waste is of particular importance to our valley, where thousands of pounds

of processed, nutrient-rich dog poop hit the ground every day.

Fecal matter is also rich in E.coli; an indicator of bacterial contamination and the basis for official Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality impairments in both Fish Creek and Flat Creek. While contributions from livestock and pets cannot be ignored, it was recently determined that human wastewater was the dominant source of quantifiable fecal contamination in both creeks. We are letting poop pollute our cherished surface waters and only source of drinking water.

Is it Clear?

Water clarity is a key principle of water quality. Clarity is typically assessed by measuring turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS). While TSS quantifies suspended particles in water, turbidity is an optical determination of clarity based on the amount of light scattered by the suspended particles. Stormwater (precipitation unable to infiltrate through impervious surfaces) carries sediment and other pollutants into waterbodies. Sediment, the result of erosive forces across the landscape, is the most common pollutant in surface waters nationwide and is introduced locally through processes like floodplain development, winter road preparations, and dredge/ fill material disposal. These fine particles eventually settle and alter the structure of the riverbed while also clouding out our waterways, diminishing their beauty and function.

Is it Cold?

Water use is the cornerstone of our community’s development. Immense green lawns, extravagant ornamental landscaping, luxurious golf courses, and hundreds of private ponds and streams dominate our valley. The resultant withdrawals, diversions, and impoundments make it easier for surface waters to warm up. Warmer water holds less oxygen, amplifies the toxic impact of nutrient pollution, and triggers algal blooms. Algal blooms (in standing and flowing water) are increasing in frequency and intensity across the planet and harm important (economic and public health) human-nature relationships.

In recent years, high water temperatures (approaching or exceeding 20° C/68° F) have increasingly limited fishing opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Elevated water temperatures are not a new issue, however: Flat Creek has been impaired by altered coldwater habitat for over twenty years. For how much longer can we afford our current relationship with water?

Our Way Forward

Wyoming does not require protection plans for public or private drinking water systems. Homeowners are also not required to test their private wells for contaminants. Residents and visitors alike must therefore work together to ensure that the surface water we play on and the drinking water we rely on remain healthy.

We have an irrefutable responsibility to manage our water properly. As the great Wendell Berry once wrote: “Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you.” Thankfully, there are steps we can take.

Ask questions: Do you know where your drinking water comes from?

• Install water-wise landscaping

• Pick up pet waste

• Limit your water use

• Be conscious of what goes down the drain

• Learn, vote, and engage with our local government on water quality issues

Do you know what’s in it? Are you connected to the sewer system? When was the last time you had your septic inspected? How is the water you’re fishing? What about the stretch you’re floating? Check out mountainneighbor.org and powjh.org for more information on our ecology, water resource issues, and relevant public health resources.

Despite various challenges, Teton County and the Town of Jackson have made significant strides to address the forces degrading our water resources. This is a good start. Through consistent monitoring, we can deepen our understanding of changing surface and groundwater conditions in order to take meaningful action toward restoring and protecting these precious resources. We are those upstream. We must work together to effectuate clean, clear, and cold water for all life reliant upon our magnificent Headwaters.

Matt Bambach is the Water Quality Advocate for Protect Our Water Jackson Hole. He grew up on the East Coast, where his time listening to loons, admiring fall foliage, and skiing ice stoked a deep love for land and water. After finishing his undergraduate studies, he moved West to experience deeper winters and dive into freshwater science. He researched toxic cyanobacterial blooms in Minnesota lakes during graduate school and has worked on wildlife, soil, and water conservation issues throughout Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. He is grateful to live with and serve all those who call the Tetons home.