Programs Several initiatives were undertaken as a direct result of the Council. The National Elk Refuge sought public comment and a conduit through which a public educational effort could be undertaken for it s proposed irrigation project. Council members helped assist Refuge staff dissemination of information as it relates to resource management practices on the refuge and how increased range management efforts, including irrigation, could help address the current challenges. The Jackson Hole Weed Management Area was established to control noxious weeds within the watershed. This interagency effort, including local, state and federal entities is being coordinated by the District and is allowing the weed control efforts to be approached on a watershed basis while avoiding application decisions to be influenced by jurisdictional boundaries.
Streams are primary indicators of the health of the watershed within which they reside.
The District places extra emphasis on the protection of the waters under our jurisdiction. District staff received three weeks of top quality intensive training in watershed function, developing watershed based monitoring plans, and rapid bioassessment methodology in the last year. With this new cutting edge knowledge, the district reevaluated all of it s existing water quality projects and programs to improve their efficiency and effectiveness and to insure that they were watershed based in concept. While the district is currently working toward a comprehensive solution to this problem it became apparent that a problem existed that demanded immediate attention. Snow removed from the streets of Jackson is stored at the Rodeo grounds.