W INTER 2018/2019 TETON STEWARDS NEWSLETTER of the GRA ND T ETON NATIONAL PARK FOU N DATIO N Photo: Diana Stratton A New Era in Fish Conservation inter snows are again blanketing the peaks in Grand Teton National Park, W beginning another cycle of accumulation and melt that feed the park’s waters and everything dependent upon them. Among the life forms that evolved here, Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout enjoy celebrity status. Robust populations provide a world- to preserve aquatic systems to a new developments and activities. In 2017, renowned, blue-ribbon resource known level. Hiring a full-time fish biologist, after completion of several habitat for its exceptional dry fly fishing. Along the park quickly developed a formidable, improvement projects, fish movements with a variety of other resident fishes, multifaceted program with a long-term between the Snake and twenty-three cutthroat trout inhabit a rare aquatic view of protecting and enhancing the miles of trout habitat became possible ecosystem that is still dominated by ecological function of park fish habitats. once again. native species. Other program enhancements But like many park resources, have included increased AIS threats to the long-term watercraft inspections, non- viability of Grand Teton’s native fish mitigation activities waterways exist. A variety at Kelly Warm Spring, and of non-native trout—lake, entrainment studies designed brown, brook, and rainbow— to evaluate impacts of fish that have been established in the get trapped in irrigation water park over the last several diversion systems. decades. These compete with cutthroat trout for food, Collaboration and support and rainbow trout, which can Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout. Photo: Charlie Hamilton James from Jackson Hole One Fly hybridize with cutthroats, threaten A variety of stream restoration projects, Foundation, Patagonia World Trout genetic integrity. Warming temperatures targeted monitoring and research, and Initiative, Trout Unlimited, Wyoming associated with climate change also development of long-term conservation Game and Fish Department, and sound alarms as they could cause plans are now at play, helping to protect Teton Conservation District reflect the expanded distributions of non-native park fisheries for future generations high level of interest in Grand Teton’s species, increases in pathogens, changes of visitors. fish populations and have been instru- in food web dynamics, and diminished mental to program successes to date. resilience to recreational fishing pres- Building on recent program successes, The Foundation’s Wild Treasures campaign sure. Combined with the increasing risk including restoring fish passage to over will continue to fund fish conservation of aquatic invasive species (AIS), which 150 miles of trout habitat through the programs through 2022, helping the park have devastated aquatic systems else- modification of one dam and removal better understand and address current where, these challenges have intensified of another, park biologists went to work and future stewardship challenges. concern among park managers. on Ditch Creek. This important stream connects the Snake River with trout For more information about fish conservation With the Foundation’s help, in 2015 spawning grounds east of the park, and the Wild Treasures campaign, contact Grand Teton entered a new era in fish but fish passage had been blocked for Steve Cain at 307-732-0629 or [email protected]. conservation, bringing its commitment over five decades by a variety of human A New Era in Fish Conservation Photo: NPS Above: Anglers enjoy fly fishing on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park. Photo: Ryan Sheets/Sheets Studios Above: Biologists install equipment to track fish passage in Ditch Creek. Right: A biologist inserts a small device into a trout so its movements can be monitored. Photos: NPS “A variety of stream restoration projects, targeted monitoring and research, and development of long-term conservation plans are now at play, helping to protect park fisheries for future generations of visitors.” Message from President LESLIE MAT TSON Photo: Hannah Rigsby Leslie and David Vela at the NPS Centennial celebration in August 2016. Photo: Hannah Hardaway uring the last five years, I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with D Grand Teton National Park Superintendent David Vela. We’ve collaborated on significant projects—celebrating the NPS centennial by renewing the Jenny Lake area, purchasing 640 acres of wildlife habitat on Antelope Flats, introducing young and diverse students to NPS careers, and much more. David has been a wonderful partner 1990—alpine skiing. This season terrain choices. We are proud to and friend, and our work togeth- is one of my favorites in the valley, support this interagency partner- er will continue to impact Grand and as you will see in the pages of ship that will directly benefit our Teton’s visitors for years to come. this newsletter, improving the local community. local avalanche forecast is a new In mid-August, David was nominat- focus area for the Foundation. Looking back on another year ed by the President to be the next at Grand Teton National Park National Park Service Director. I’ve witnessed first-hand the in- Foundation, my fourteenth serving He is an extraordinary leader whose crease in popularity of backcountry as president, I am grateful to passion and commitment to our skiing in the Tetons. As both friends, our many supporters who enable parks and sharing them with people locals, and visitors continue to ski our work in this iconic park from across the globe is admirable. in Grand Teton, it was an obvious year after year. Thank you for I am confident David will have great choice to support adding park- your continued dedication to success if he is confirmed in this specific data to Bridger-Teton Grand Teton and cheers to 2019! leadership position, and I wish Avalanche Center’s daily forecast. him all the best as he takes on this This additional information— Leslie Mattson important role. and a new park meteorological technician—will provide back- As winter takes hold of Grand Teton country skiers and riders with a President National Park, I’m reminded of the better picture of what is happening very reason I was drawn here in with the snowpack before making Educated visitors about resource protection 2018 and safety through volunteer programs— Wildlife Brigade, String Highlights Lakers, and Snake River Ambassadors Raised $10,027,329 for Grand Teton Provided state-of- 1,785 donors supported our work the-art technology to better understand grizzly bear-human interactions, wolf ecology & Restored 132 acres recovery, animal migration, acres of sagebrush habitat climate change impacts, and on Antelope Flats for the native fish ecology benefit of many species including a variety of songbirds, sage grouse, Planning began for pronghorn, bison, elk, our Snake River Gateways and more campaign that will transform Purchased the three heavily-used river last privatly-held inholding access points in the park on the iconic Mormon Row Historic District for conservation and seasonal workforce housing Monitored Grand Teton’s glaciers through photographic surveys compiled by citizen scientists from across Introduced teens the country to NPS career opportu- nities through innovative Initiated stabilization programs—Youth of two historically significant Conservation Program, structures at the second- Pura Vida, Mountains to oldest and best-known Main Street, and Tribal dude ranch in the park— Made significant Youth Corps the Bar BC progress toward finishing work at Jenny Lake in the final major construction season of our multi-year effort to renew Grand Teton’s Installed 43 bear- most popular destination resistant food storage boxes in campgrounds and picnic areas to keep bears wild and visitors safe Photos: Ryan Sheets, Diana Stratton and NPS Park and Foundation Partner to Provide more Information for Winter Backcountry Users rand Teton National Park has daily Teton forecast for more than located within popular skiing terrain been a well-known backcountry forty years. Prior to this season, BTAC in the park.” G skiing destination even before collected and analyzed weather data Bill Briggs’ first winter descent of the at various locations throughout the Two stations—wind and snow— Grand in 1971. Today, skiers and snow- valley, but not in Grand Teton. were installed in the Surprise Lake/ boarders from across the globe travel to Disappointment Peak region in late the park seeking powder turns in one of “Since the park is a significant portion September. Data from these sensors the most dramatic mountain landscapes of the forecast area, we wanted to will help inform the daily Teton in the lower forty-eight. The popularity collaborate with BTAC for the avalanche forecast and be available of backcountry skiing has increased benefit and safety of park visitors,” on BTAC’s website (jhavalanche.org). significantly during the last several Jenny Lake District Climbing Ranger This will give backcountry skiers and years—a trend that is certainly evident Scott Guenther said. “With the riders information about what is going here in the Tetons. help of Grand Teton National Park on with the snowpack in Grand Teton. Foundation, we are able to partner Bridger-Teton National Forest’s Avalanche with the avalanche center to provide In addition to offering more data, Center (BTAC) has been creating the much-needed remote weather stations the Foundation is supporting a meteorological technician who will make Are you Ready to Explore Winter snowpack assessments and observations throughout Grand Teton National Park. The in Grand Teton National Park? technician will also collaborate with BTAC. This year marks the sixth consecutive year the Foundation is supporting bi-weekly grooming of the Teton Park Road. The 14-mile stretch between “These new resources will jump-start our the Bradley-Taggart Trailhead and Signal Mountain provides opportunities effort to improve the daily avalanche hazard for visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy this extraordinary season by forecast for terrain located in Grand Teton cross country skis, snowshoes, or on foot.