VOL. 2 NO. 3 SUMMER 2002

C O N T E N T S Thanks to our many members, volunteers and WA QU A AR T E R L Y NTE W S L E ET T E R PRU B L I S H ED BY FR LI E N D S I OF N TH E TE T O E N RI V E SR donors, PAGE 2

Over 20 volunteers help identify current and potential spawning sites on local spring creeks, PAGE 3

Second Annual River Party & Annual Meeting was a huge success, PAGES 4-5

Please remember Friends of the Teton River when making your donations to Old Bill’s Fun Run, PAGE 8

The Friends of the Teton River is dedicated to Boatloads of experts floated the Teton River twice this summer to assess understanding and the physical and biological conditions which limit local trout populations. improving ground and surface w ater resourc es in the Teton Basin, Habitat assessment and inc luding the Teton River, its tributaries restoration on the Teton River and wetlands. We will further this mission by Trout densities in Idaho. Additionally, data indicate c onducting sc ientific that over the past 10 years the Teton River are average trout size has increased researc h about the Teton considerably lower but densities (number of trout per waters hed, effectively area) have decreased. Friends of c ommunic ating this than elsewhere in the Teton River has initiated information to the eastern Idaho several programs to understand public , and implementing the factors limiting fish popula- tions in the Teton River and its on-the-ground “Something needs fixing in this tributaries. We are currently system, and we’re not quite sure improvement projects. assessing the physical and what it is,” said Bill Schrader, In carrying out this biological conditions in the Teton Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) River and six of the east side mission we will ac tively during discussions about wild tributaries to the Teton. In this c ooperate and trout and cutthroat populations in article I’ll talk about the Teton c ollaborate with all the Teton River. Electrofishing River Habitat Assessment and data, collected by IDFG (Figure 1 other groups, agencies Restoration (HARP) Project and on on page 6) show that trout and individuals working page 5 Katie Salsbury will densities in the Teton River are for the welfare of the describe the spawning survey that considerably lower than those in was conducted on tributaries in Teton Basin. other river systems in eastern -see SHARP on page 6 Welcome to the following New & Renewing Members Judy Allen & Paul & Will Paul & Mary Lou Hansen JoAnn Olesen Malcolm & Jill Smith Mangold Mark Harrington Wood Palmer Danette & Jimmy Stafford BOARD OF The Allens Ross & Nancy Hayes Susan Patla Mary & Joe Stern Jay & Phyllis Anderson High Peaks Physical Therapy Debra Patla Peter Stern DIRECTORS Sunny Ariessohn Sheryl Hill Keith Petersen Jerry & Cathy Stillman Randy Berry Gary Arnold Ray Hinchcliff George & Leanna Peterson Jim & Kate Strain Jaydell Buxton Leigh Baker Patrick Hogan Tom Purcell Mark Thompson Tom Fenger Al Baldwin Derek Hora & Heather Phillips Pete Quinlan & Leslie Rob Van Kirk William G. Kelly Gary Bebe Ginger Howard & Jim Prendergast Travis VanVoorst Lyle Kunz Joel Berger Redmond Reid Rogers Dan Visosky Boyd Moulton John Bishop Ted Karasote Don & Leslie Roth William F. Walsh Sam Pole Martha & Tim Black Mark & Dorris Kelly Brooke Saindon Tim Watters Katherine Salsbury Scott Bohr Mark & Julia Kessler Mrs. & Mrs. Robert Salsbury David Wells David Work Alice & Bill Boney Jerry & Viesia Kirk Karen & Dean Scheid Kate West & Alan McKnight Damion Brace & Niesey Bobby & Joy Kirkpatrick Erik Schultz Hans Wilbrecht ADVISORY Heckart Jeff & Darcy Klausmann Chris Scott David Witton & Irene Nelson BOARD Nola Bredal Jim & Jackie Klausmann Carolyn Sears Chet Work Citizens for Teton Valley Alan Bridwell Carl & Emily Knobloch Cindy Sebesta Karla Wynn Greater Yellowstone Jim Budge Rachel Larimare Robert Senior Greg Young Coalition Tim Burnham Ann Layola Hugh & Miriam Shane John & Rosemary Young High Country Resource & Development Jeremy & Travis Caulkins Derek Layola & Lidia DeLello S.K. Shannon Suzanne Young Idaho Association of Soil Rob Cavallaro Live Water Properties Faye & Lee Sledge Rico Young & Bonnie Krafchuck Conservation Districts Richard & Lynne Cheney Jeff & Eve Lynes Idaho Department of Elizabeth Coulter Alex Maher Thanks to the donors & volunteers who Environmental Quality The Coulter Family Michael Manley & Maryanna Idaho Fish and Game helped at our Annual River Party Bud & Sam Crary Vuocolo Idaho National AUCTION DONORS Grand Teton Brewing Co. Engineering and Ryan Curl Joe Martinez Environmental Lou & Christy Cushman Sandy & Mary Mason Barker-Ewing Harvest Natural Foods Laboratory Joe DiMarco John Matson & Patti Snarr Big Hole Sports Warbirds Café Idaho Rivers United Carol Lowe Blue Flax Farm Idaho State University Katherine & Mark Dowson Erin Max Dave Eddins David Max Dry Ridge Outfitters Intermountain Aquatics VOLUNTEERS Natural Resource Bud & Betty Elliott Richard Max Exum Mountain Guides Suzie Work Conservation Service Gary Ellis Richard & Patsy Mayer Fred Mugler David Work Teton County Planning & Heidi and Richard Eversley Ken McIntosh Grand Targhee Zoning Commission Chet Work Isaac Farabaugh Dennis McLaughlin High Peaks Physical Therapy Teton County Planning Leigh Baker Department Bob Foster Pedro & Jennifer Medina Hole Hiking Experience Kate West Teton Soil Conservation Lisa Foster Chi Melville Jackson Hole Nordic Center Alan McKnight District Lester Foster Linda & Mike Mergliano Moose Creek Ranch Trout Unlimited, Teton Rico Young Bert Foster William Miller National Outdoor Leadership Valley Chapter Peter Ousterhoudt Jenny Fryxell & David Call Matthew Miller School U.S. Bureau of Land Joyce Pole Management Patrick Gallagher Linda Miller OARS Sam Pole U.S. Forest Service, Jeff Gibson Sherlene Milligan Orion River Adventures Targhee National Stanley Edwards T. Gillick John Morris Reel Women Forest Tom Fenger Margaret Grebe Lori Murphy Rendevous Ski Tours Katie Salsbury Lyn Benjamin, Andy & Sharon Griffin Kathi Myers & Bob Mechikoff Rob Van Kirk Sands Whitewater Baker Salsbury Executive Director Sharon Gusa Jeff Naylor Targhee Institute Suzanne Young Marge Edwards, Ben Hammond & Lisa Johnson Robert Nelson Teton Aviation Lori Ann Murphy Development Director Teton Valley Fitness Center Thanks to the following Teton Valley Lodge A SPECIAL 65 South Main #7 THANKS TO PO Box 768 Foundations for project grants Tom Fenger Ted Kerasote Driggs, ID 83422 The Donald C. Brace Foundation (208)354-3871 The Arthur B. Schultz Foundation FOOD & Hugh Shane [email protected] The Peninsula Community Foundation FLOWER DONORS Courtney Liddiard Albertson’s Leora Wood LAYOUT & DESIGN BY The Teton Springs Foundation MARY LOUHANSEN, The Community Foundation of Jackson Hole Broulims Teton Valley Lodge SAGE PRODUCTION & DESIGN Idaho Department of Fish and Game Dining In Catering Intermountain Aquatics PAGE 2 Volunteers help identify spawning redds in local spring creeks

On Friday May 3, over twenty volunteers gathered at the Victor Emporium to participate in a training seminar for the Friends of the Teton River/Teton Valley Trout Unlimited Spring Creek Spawning Study. The seminar was led by fisheries biologists from the Idaho Fish & Game Department and the John Courtney identifies a redd on Woods Creek. Wyoming Game & Fish Depart- could work with willing landown- gravels. Lower Fox Creek, Dick ment who reviewed how to identify ers to conduct spawning habitat Creek and Fish Creek all had spawning redds and note instream improvement projects. ample flows during the spawning habitat characteristics. Data was collected on private season; however, the dominance of The goals of the spawning lands on portions of Fish Creek, silty substrates, lack of clean study were: Six Springs, Woods Creek, Teton gravels and a barrier on Dick Determine if and when six Creek, Fox Creek and Dick Creek Creek seemed to limit spawning spring creeks located on the east from May 4 through June 29. The activity. Spawning-sized (10-16”) side of the Teton River were study was funded by a grant from trout were identified in Teton utilized by spring spawning the Idaho Fish & Game Depart- Creek, Fox Creek, Six Springs and salmonids. ment and contributions from Woods Creek. The presence of Identify suitable locations Friends of the Teton River and spawning sized trout in these where Friends of the Teton River Intermountain Aquatics, Inc. systems during the time of the and Teton Valley Trout Unlimited Spawning redds were identified study indicated that future in Teton Creek, Six Springs and improvement projects addressing Woods Creek. Teton Creek has the lack of gravels might be been identified by the Idaho Fish utilized. & Game Department as the major A meeting will be hosted this fall contributing spawning tributary to by Friends of the Teton River and the upper Teton River. Our Teton Valley Trout Unlimited to observations confirmed this present the results of the study and designation with the presence of to choose potential sites for spawn- suitable gravels and spawning ing habitat improvement projects to redds. Six Springs and Woods be constructed in the summer of Creek are smaller spring creeks 2003. Techniques that will be with no recorded historic spawning discussed will include: construction data. Volunteers documented one of artificial gravel spawning beds, spawning redd in Six Springs and egg transplants and incubation two in Woods Creek. Both of these projects, fencing projects, removal of streams had stable, ample flows barriers to fish passage and bank during the spawning season, stabilization projects. Ralph Hudelson, Wyoming Game & Fish, stable banks and the presence of a -Katie Salsbury, describes cutthroat spawning projects in Teton County, WY. few areas with suitable spawning Intermountain Aquatics

PAGE 3 PAGE 4 Second Annual River Party & MEMBERSHIP Meeting - June 29, 2002 Another beautiful evening by the river was shared by about 180 people. We all enjoyed wonderful food, music and conversation. 73 new members joined FTR and we raised $4,000.

1. Laura Balben, Robin Hansen, Sonja Berger and Leidy Wagener share a laugh at the lemonade table. 2. Board Member, Jaydell, and Judy Buxton. 3. Hugh and Owen Shane. 4. Executive Director Lyn Benjamin talks about water resources in the Teton Valley. 5. Board Member Katie Salsbury greets guests. 6. Forest Edwards, Mariah Bredal, and Shannon Eversley discuss important events. 7. Judy Baumgartner and Carol Lowe. 8. Joanne Green, Mark Harrington and others. 9. Musicians Peter Ousterhardt, Kate West, Alan McKnight, and Rico Young. 10. Board Member Dave Work and Dean Scheid 11. Ben and Cole Hammond. 12. Party Organizer and FTR Development Director, Marge Edwards.

Photos by Dave Witton and Ted Kerasote.

PAGE 5 to assess steambank and instream tion perspectives on the Teton HARP continued from page 1 habitat conditions and to identify River. A highlight of the first float the spring. and prioritize sites for restoration was a poetry recitation by Garl The HARP Project was de- activities. During both floats each Drake during our lunch break. signed to assess and improve boat filled out data sheets about Several preliminary conclusions aquatic habitat conditions in the conditions, looked at erosional articulated by the group included Teton River from Fox Creek East to areas that had been identified by the following: 1) the natural factors Highway 33. Over the past 15 years the NRCS and IDFG in 1988, and that determine the conditions of several agencies and organizations discussed potential restoration the river include extremely low have collected habitat and bank strategies. Following the floats the gradient, a fairly consistent stability information on the Teton data was compiled and circulated groundwater-dominated hydrologic River, so the first part of the project to participants; at a final meeting regime (no extreme flood events), was to assemble and assess that on August 19 we will choose three and a narrow floodplain–all of information. In June Bill Schrader, reference sites (the best examples which result in low stream power IDFG, and Steve Ray and Elliot of good channel structure an and a slow rate of geomorphic Traher, Natural Resources Conser- habitat), three recovering areas, change (compare this river channel vation Service (NRCS) and Idaho and five restoration sites. After to that of the South Fork of the Association of Soil Conservation discussions with appropriate Snake); 2) historic land use has Districts (IASCD) provided me with landowners, in September we will resulted in streambank erosion, the surveys that those agencies establish permanent cross sections increased widths and increased conducted between 1988 and 1996. at the sites to monitor long-term sediment. Where land use has The NRCS/IASCD inventoried 75 trends; during the winter months changed the river is healing itself, eroded bank sites and recorded we will design restoration plans for however, because the rate of locations on an aerial photographic five sites. We hope to implement geomorphic change on the Teton is map. IDFG worked with several these plans during the summer of slow, repair is occuring slowly; 3) landowners to fence riparian areas 2003 (funding permitting). the major problems seen along this and photo-document areas over The assessment team worked stretch of the river include channel time. extremely well together and widening, lack of large woody We felt that it was important to provided biological, water quality, debris (very important for adult incorporate a range of expertise land use, hydrologic, and restora- cutthroat habitat), lack of bars and into the assessment process so islands (channel structure), we assembled a team of resource CUTTHROAT TROUT eroding banks, collapsed fences, professionals familiar with the DENSITY and many weeds; and 4) Teton Basin to be involved with (From Idaho Fish & Game) restoration strategies should the project. The team consisted include the encouragement of of: Rob Van Kirk, Idaho State natural healing processes by University; Sheryl Hill, private reestablishment of willows in consultant, formerly IDEQ; riparian areas, channel Matt Woodard, Trout Unlimited; narrowing by island and bank Elliot Traher, IASCD; Garl stabilization, and streambank Drake, IASCD; Lee Maybe, U.S. repair using native sedges. Forest Service; Katie Salsbury, We were encouraged by Intermountain Aquatics; Sam what we saw and the potential Pole, Mike Lien and Tom Fenger, for habitat improvement on FTR; Erik Schultz, A.B. Schultz this stretch of the Teton River; Foundation; Bill Schrader, Jim we are also very grateful to the Fredericks, and Don Kemmerer, individuals who shared their IDFG. time and expertise so gener- On July 10 and 24 this group ously. floated from South Bates Bridge -Lyn Benjamin, to Rainier Fish and Game access Executive Director

PAGE 6 Watch for water quality articles Over the next year FTR will be releasing results from our water quality monitoring program. In order to help citizens and local government understand the significance of the data, our fall newsletter will begin a series of articles explaining the significance of various surface and ground water quality measures and how to interpret the monitoring results. The series will cover these topics: nitrates and the nitrogen cycle E. coli and other pathogens suspended solids and sediment temperature Friends of the Teton River board members discuss strategic plan compo- nents (clockwise from left): Lyn Benjamin, executive director; Marge We encourage your Edwards, development director; Sam Pole; Katie Salsbury; Tom Fenger, questions & comments Dave Work and Bill Kelly. As our second water quality forum made clear, members of the commu- FTR Board sets goals during retreat on a spawning tributary of the nity have a lot of questions– he FTR board met on May 18 at T Teton River to increase trout although some are shy about the Teton Valley Lodge to produce populations. standing up in public to ask them. a three year strategic plan for the Starting with our next newsletter, organization. Suzanne Young did •Continue to collect water we will answer one or two questions an excellent job facilitating the samples to monitor the health of submitted by readers. Just about day, managing to keep us focused ground and surface water quality any topic is fair game, including without restricting discussion in the Teton Basin. plans or operations of FTR and time. We formulated goals, •Provide accessible information technical/scientific issues. We will objectives and actions steps in five about water issues to the local also welcome comments not in the key areas: water quality, water community. form of questions. Please include your name and address when quantity, aquatic ecosystems, •Maintain support of the submitting questions or comments funding and staffing, and relation- student stream study program. ships with the agricultural and let us know if you want to •Continue collaborating with community. Based on the strategic remain anonymous or would prefer local, state and federal agencies, planning session FTR will: using only your initials. and other organizations and •Improve aquatic habitat on individuals to understand and the Teton River and its tributaries. ELECTION RESULTS protect the water resources of the •Reduce sediment in the river Teton Valley. During the June 29 Board Elec- by restoring streambanks in the •Continue to provide technical tion Lyle Kunz, Tom Fen g e r , Sam watershed. expertise to elected Teton County Pole and Dave Work were con- •Implement recharge program officials about groundwater firmed as board members. When to improve flows in the Teton River quantity and quality issues by their terms expire, other board and its associated wetlands. housing and maintaining the members will be voted on in fu- •Design and implement a aquifer model developed by ture elections. demonstration restoration project Cascade Earth Sciences.

PAGE 7 Old Bills Fun Run provides an opportunity for donors to have their contributions to Old Bill’s local non-profits matched through the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. We, at Friends of the Teton River, rely on member donations for operating expenses donations as well as for important projects. Please consider making a contribution to Friends of the Teton River through Old Bill’s Fun Run. Your contribution will help to: vital to improve fish and wildlife habitat on the Teton River and its tributaries, maintain a Friends of water monitoring program on the Teton River and spring creeks, support the elementary school stream study program and many other programs slated for the the Teton future. Donation forms are available at Friends of the Teton River, the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole and local banks. Remember to write your checks to the River Community Foundation of Jackson Hole and designate the amount you would like to go toward Friends of the Teton River on the donor form. THANK YOU!

Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Driggs, ID Permit #8 P.O. Box 7 68 D riggs, ID 83 4 2 2

Dedicated to understanding and improving the water resources of Teton Basin.

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