Attend summit to better Wyoming Waters

Since 9/11 we’ve heard constant litany of how America is “under attack.”

Except for an occasional visit by the vice president, many other places are ahead of Jackson in attracting acts of terrorism.

Unfortunately, the water resources that lend Jackson a major portion of its unforgettable luster are at a far greater risk than the human population. And the terrorists are already embedded nearby. The most notorious of these destructive enemies are whirling disease, New Zealand mud snails, Didymo algae, quagga and zebra mussels.

Am I being overly dramatic?

Not a bit. The carefree days of travel and recreation between rivers, streams and lakes by fishermen, boaters, rafters, hikers, hunters, packers and paddlers are over. Thanks to lax to nonexistent laws on commercial ship ballast dumping in the Great Lakes, commercial hatchery fish importation and the thoughtless disposal/release of non-native aquatic plants and fish, America’s water courses are under ferocious attack by an exotics list that swells daily. Our personal recreation habits redistribute these pesky problems nationwide and with utmost efficiency via boats, trailers, wading boots, garbage, sandals and other wet equipment.

Joe Starinchak, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the most well-informed person in the country on the militant-like invasion of exotic plants, animals, fish and insects. Regularly reading his Web site (www.protectyourwaters.net) is fascinating and educational as well as thoroughly depressing. Starinchak will be the keynote presenter at the upcoming Summit on the Snake scheduled all day May 31. A River Evening Film Festival will follow at 6:30 p.m.
Attracting a broader audience
Now heading into its 10th year, the summit originated as a symposium for new summer river guides sponsored by the then fledgling Snake River Fund. The gathering first attracted personnel from all of the major local rafting and boating companies whose voluntary financial donations funneled through the SRF to maintain fee-free private and commercial boating activities on the lower Snake.

Both the summit and the SRF have systematically evolved by attracting a broader participant base to both entities. In addition to the commercial boating industry, more private donors and Old Bill’s are pitching in to allow the SRF to support a broader spectrum of river projects, such as overseeing Wilson Bridge/Beach and maintaining South Park launching facilities, needed riverside restroom installation, river trail access and continual ramp maintenance, summer personnel staffing and parking projects.

In addition to Starinchak’s “Protecting the Place We Love” invasive program, summit guests will be treated to a variety of other top-notch speakers who will discuss river geology, navigational history, wildlife monitoring and ecology, climatology and a special emphasis on birds of the Snake.

In her insistence to add broader appeal to the summit, ramrod Margaret Creel has moved the event closer to town at the Jackson campus of the Teton Science School (across Highway 22 near Skyline Ranch). Nine previous summits were generously hosted by the Spotted Horse Ranch before the first guests arrived at its headquarters on the banks of the Hoback River. To reach even more “summer people,” this summit is a week later than in previous years.

Local biologists and officials from state and federal agencies will focus on activities that uniquely involve recreation and especially river use. Sue Wolff, lead biologist in Grand Teton National Park, will deliver information on “Wildlife Conservation and Monitoring in GTNP.” Susan Patla, a local Wyoming Game and Fish non-game biologist, will discuss “Bald Eagles and Other Raptors of the Snake River Corridor.” Patla will review local history and management of bald eagles as well as identify and explain other raptors that frequent the riparian zone. In addition to elaborating additional wildlife history of Jackson Hole, resident naturalist Roger Smith of Three Creek Ranch may also facilitate guest appearances from a local red-tailed hawk and great horned owl. Bridger-Teton National Forest River Manager Dave Cernicek will emphasize guide behavior standards on the river and include other current issues and questions.

While everybody talks about the weather and can do little about it, Wyoming State Climatologist Dr. Steve Gray is different. His “Exploring the Range of Potential Climate Change Impacts on Western U.S. River Systems” will introduce recent research on how past and future climate change can impact western river systems. Dr. Anna Chalfoun, of the University of Wyoming, will run through some of the more cryptic and non-raptorial bird species encountered along the Snake River corridor. She titles her talk “The Godsend’s Guide to Birds of the Snake River” and promises plenty of “nerdy bird factoids.”

Phil Cameron, the resident naturalist for the Snake River Sporting Club, plans an interactive natural history presentation to aid all Snake River guides in dealing with frequently encountered client questions. He says attendees should be ready to wager their knowledge for prizes. Local geologist Wallace Ullrich will thoroughly explain structural geology, paleontology and hydrology of our river in his talk: “Geoscience of the Snake River.” Wayne Johnson, of Salmon River Rafting/Grand Teton Lodge Co., a longtime student of river lore and history, will outline a chronology of expeditions and adventures from 1811 to modern day recreation in “A History of Navigation and Attempts to Navigate the Snake River in Wyoming.”

Tom Patricelli has been heading the Campaign for the Snake Headwaters for the last three years and will share discussion on the continuing effort to secure wild and scenic designation for the Snake River and surrounding tributaries.

The Summit on the Snake is a long day that begins with an 8 a.m. registration, coffee and light breakfast. Lunch will be served by the Science School kitchen. Speakers begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. Cost for those pre-registered through the SRF (734-6773) is $20. Fee at the door is $25. Commercial outfitters can call for group rates.

Raffle prizes for the event are still being collected but items already donated come from Patagonia, Cloudveil, Mountain Khakis, NewWest Knife Works, High Country Flies, World Cast Anglers, Rendezvous River Sports, Snake River Kayak and Canoe, Tom Mangeleson, Barker-Ewing River Trips, Lewis and Clark Boat Trips and Cortland Line Co.

The original Summit on the Snake was co-sponsored by the Headwaters Institute and this year Tom Hicks, executive director of this 12-year-old educational organization, will present a workshop slanted toward professional guides. The Headwaters Institute has trained more than 6,000 people at nearly 100 seminars that in turn have had personal contact with several million guests.

A River Evening Film Festival from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. will celebrate the Snake River Fund and summit’s 10th anniversary, as well as the 40th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Private donations are encouraged from attendees for this pizza, coffee and dessert event that showcases a group of award-winning short films about whitewater rafting, kayaking and fishing. Films included are Mississippi – Tales of the Last River Rat, Selections from The Drake 2006 Fly Fishing Video Awards, The Hatch (fishing the Black Canyon of the Gunnison), Nomads: Women of the Wandering Whitewater Tribe, excerpts from Black Book, (great whitewater kayaking footage), Against the Current (importance of healthy rivers and streams in the arid West) and excerpts from A Glorious Way to Die (about river rafters in Siberia).

A cash bar with wine, beer and sodas will be available during the evening film event.

The Summit on the Snake is an opportunity for immersion in a wealth of specialized river information not found at any other seminar. Contact Marley Vaughn, executive director of the Snake River Fund, for reservations and information at 734-6773.
B-T Red Cross offers classes
Jim Flower has recently assumed command of the American Red Cross’ Jackson office (155 W. Gill Ave.; 733-4049). An experienced EMT and a dedicated Red Cross representative, Flower gets high marks for his teaching skills as well. Being a veteran of more Standard First Aid and annual CPR review classes than I can count, it is always beneficial to partake of Flower’s personalized classes. By adding his own photographs and experiences to the evening, Flower improves on the standard teaching video programs.

This is the time of year that all outfitters and others involved with public care must re-certify for CPR and First Aid. A class schedule is available at www.wyomingredcross.org (locate “Training Classes” and click on Bridger-Teton Branch Office-Jackson). Not listed yet for May 22 is another CPR-Review, 6-9 p.m. that includes adult, child and infants ($35) to be taught by Teton County Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Hodges. Call 733-4049 to reserve a spot.
Jackson Lake Dam meeting
The Bureau of Reclamation will host its annual Jackson public meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Antler Inn downstairs meeting room on Pearl Street. Water operation managers from the Bureau’s Minidoka-Palisades Snake River project headquarters in Burley, Idaho, will review 2007 operations and outline plans for Jackson Lake Dam summer 2008 flow management. This meeting will be of interest to recreational, agricultural and tourism operators.


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