THE ROAD AHEAD: 2023

Teton County residents have made it clear that water quality is one of the highest priorities for our community. With 80% of voters supporting the Water Quality SPET Measure – the most supported SPET measure in history – POWJH is now mandated to ensure that Teton County achieves the highest water quality for our community.

With that in mind, the Water Quality Master Plan (WQMP) Project Team is working diligently to develop a comprehensive implementation plan, and the progress to date heartens POWJH. Although the WQMP is progressing well, population growth and the pace of development have not halted during this planning process and continue to exacerbate our water quality issues.

Therefore, while some actions will need to wait for the completion of the WQMP, POWJH is pressing for specific measures that can and should be implemented now. POWJH is advocating to implement governance, regulatory, and critical infrastructure measures to curb further water quality degradation in Teton County.

In addition, The WQMP team has acknowledged the lack of water quality monitoring data in Teton County. Being one to take action, POWJH is taking a lead role in a Snake River watershed monitoring program to better understand pollutants in the Snake River and its tributaries. This is a significant undertaking involving many partners, but we are excited to be the catalyst in establishing this critical monitoring program for Teton County.

POWJH understands the value of education. Our education on water quality issues has certainly moved voters. This year we are also focusing on our younger generation. With a significant grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, POWJH has created a water quality awareness curriculum for 6th and 9th graders. We will take it one step further by teaching the Advanced Placement Environmental Science class how to advocate and educate our community on water quality. This class will do community outreach and host a drinking water well testing program.

Lastly, we are thrilled to not only be hosting our 2nd Rally for Clean Water on September 21, 2023, but also a Jackson Hole Water Symposium to educate influential leaders in our community about water quality issues and how they can help protect and restore our vital water resources.