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| September 2010 Alliance
Action |
1) Help
keep Jackson Hole wild and beautiful -- support
us through Old Bill’s Fun Run!
2) Court reinstates federal protections for Northern Rockies
gray wolves
3) Fate of 1,366 acres of state-owned land in Teton Park still
uncertain
4) Bridger-Teton seeks input on Snake Headwaters Wild and Scenic
River Plan
5) Stay tuned for info on environmental studies expected in September
6) Community planning updates
7) Conservation Alliance news
8) Coming Events
9) Valley Voices
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1) Help
keep Jackson Hole wild and beautiful -- support
us through Old Bill’s Fun Run!
Fall is one of the rare times we make a financial
appeal to readers of Alliance Action, which we
hope you value as one of the best ways you can
stay informed about conservation and land use issues
facing this treasured valley.
Some of our AA readers are members, but many of
you are not. If you haven't yet joined the Jackson
Hole Conservation Alliance, please consider supporting
our work to protect the valley by making a donation
through Old Bill's Fun Run for Charities, a unique
community event that takes place the second Saturday
of each September.
In these difficult economic times, your help matters.
Whether it's $10, $100 or $1,000, every dollar
counts toward continuing our work to keep this
special place wild and beautiful for generations
to come. And by giving now, a percentage of your
contribution will be matched through Old Bill's.
Please visit www.cfjacksonhole.org/ob-donor.php to
donate now through Old Bill's.
Look for "Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance" in
the alphabetical nonprofit list.
This year, donations are being accepted via Old
Bill's through September 17, 5 p.m.
(You can, of course, at any time become a member
or contribute directly toward the Jackson Hole
Conservation Alliance's work by clicking
here.)
Thanks for your loyal readership, for caring about
Jackson Hole and thanks in advance for your support!
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2) Court
reinstates federal protections for Northern Rockies
gray wolves
On August 5, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy
put the Northern Rockies gray wolf population back
on the endangered species list with his decision
that the Endangered Species Act does not allow
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove federal
protection of wolves in Idaho and Montana, while
keeping protections for wolves in Wyoming.
Molloy ruled in a case that a coalition of conservation
groups (including the Alliance) filed in June 2009
against the Fish and Wildlife Service for its April
2009 decision delisting wolves in Montana and Idaho.
Essentially, Molloy ruled that wolves in Wyoming,
Idaho and Montana either all have to be under federal
protection, or all under state management plans
that ensure the viability of the species.
This welcome ruling validates the coalition’s
stance that wolves must be managed as one population
across the Northern Rockies. It may also result
in Montana and Idaho putting pressure on Wyoming
to reject its current wolf management plan -- which
basically classifies wolves as predators that can
be killed on sight throughout most of the state
-- in favor of trophy game status for wolves statewide,
in which case people who wanted to kill wolves
would have to apply for a hunting license to do
so. (Wyoming’s plan is the reason Fish and
Wildlife kept federal protections for wolves in
the state.)
Throughout the inevitable challenges that will likely
follow this ruling, the Alliance will continue to
work toward our goal of having the Wyoming Legislature
eliminate the wolf predator zone and designate the
entire state (excluding national parks) a trophy
game zone. We’ll also keep encouraging the
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service to use the best available science
in managing wolves so as to assure their long-term
viability, including consistent interconnections
between the wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
More information on this issue is available by clicking
here.
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3) Fate
of 1,366 acres of state-owned land in Teton Park
still uncertain
Earlier this summer, Gov. Dave Freudenthal stated
that unless the federal government came up with
a deal to buy the land, Wyoming might auction off
two state-owned square-mile parcels within Grand
Teton National Park to private developers.
Known as state school trust lands, the parcels
are supposed to generate funds for Wyoming’s
public schools. They’re also supposed to
be “managed for maximum profit.” However,
for this land that’s estimated to be worth
more than $100 million, the state is only getting
about $3,000 a year in grazing leases.
Wyoming has tried to negotiate a fair trade for
the parcels with the federal government for the
past 10 years, and Freudenthal’s gambit to
apply some pressure seems to be working. On August
25, he announced that he had met with federal
officials and “we put together a transaction” that
was “certainly positive enough that I don’t
feel obligated to go put up a for sale sign.”
Although details are still sketchy, it’s likely
that the Wyoming Legislature and U.S. Congress would
have to sign off on at least part of such a deal,
so we encourage you add to the arm-twisting for a
successful trade. Please let state and federal legislators
know that offering public lands for private development
-- especially in Grand Teton National Park -- is
an option that’s simply unacceptable. Their
contact information is available by clicking
here.
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4) Bridger-Teton
seeks input on Snake Headwaters Wild and Scenic
River Plan
In March 2009, passage of the Craig Thomas Snake
River Headwaters Legacy Act brought some 400 miles
of the Snake and its tributaries under the protection
of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Now, Bridger-Teton
National Forest officials are working on a plan
to manage the waterways covered by this legislation,
and they’d like your help. Details on how
you can participate are available at www.snakeheadwatersact.com and www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf/wild_scenic.
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5) Stay
tuned for info on environmental studies expected
in September
Several long-awaited National Environmental Policy
Act studies are expected to be released this month,
and we urge you to keep checking back here for
updates on how you can comment on them. These include
studies on: the Jackson South Highway reconstruction
project; the proposed Bridger-Teton land sale and
headquarters relocation; the Jackson Hole Airport
lease extension; the Hoback Wells proposal by Plains
Energy to develop a 136-well natural gas field
near Bondurant; and the final analysis regarding
contested energy development leases on nearly 45,000
acres of prime wildlife habitat in the Wyoming
Range. We’ll post details here on each study
as soon as they are released. For background information,
please contact Lousie Lasley, Alliance public lands
director, at (307) 733-9417 or Louise@jhalliance.org.
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6) Community
planning updates
Here’s a partial roundup of community planning
items on deck this month, but please keep in mind
that all meetings are subject to change. Call the
Town of Jackson at (307) 733-3932, Teton County
at (307) 733-8094, or reach Becky Tillson at Rebecca@jhalliance.org or
(307) 733-9417 for confirmation. Also, this list
isn’t exhaustive, since many meeting agendas
aren’t finalized until shortly before the
meeting takes place. Check www.jhalliance.org/allianceaction.htm, www.ci.jackson.wy.us and www.tetonwyo.org for
updates. If you’d like to comment on any
of these items, contact information for all local
public officials is available at www.jhalliance.org/takeactioncontacts.htm.
SNAKE RIVER ACCESS: Teton Board of County Commissioners
workshop, to be held either after the commissioners’ 9
a.m. regular meeting on September 7 if there’s
time, or at 3 p.m. on September 17, County commissioners’ chambers,
200 S. Willow. In the August 17 primary election,
Teton County voters okayed 10 of 11 projects seeking
funding from the 1 percent specific purpose excise
tax. Among these was $1 million for Proposition
#8: “Wilson Bridge Recreation Area and South
Park/Wilson Bridge River Access.” This workshop
is expected to begin addressing some of the details
involved in realizing the goals of this proposition.
MONTHLY TOWN/COUNTY JOINT INFORMATION MEETING:
Jackson Town Council and Teton Board of County
Commissioners, September 13, 2 p.m., County commissioners’ chambers,
200 S. Willow. Due to Labor Day, the September
JIM is postponed from September 6 to the 13th.
Although the full agenda isn’t available
yet, the electeds are expected to discuss the possibility
of using a facilitator for the ongoing Comp Plan
revision process; the future of the Natural Resources
Technical Advisory Board, which they took applications
for during the last three weeks of August; and
the proposed swap of a parcel in Karns Meadow for
one east of Teton County Library. (The Teton County
Housing Authority is considering trading its 5.75
acre Karns property for the 3.9 acre Grove property
recently acquired by the Town of Jackson. If the
swap works out, the town plans to put a START and
public works facility on the Karns parcel, while
the housing authority plans to build about 70 affordable
housing units where the trailer park used to be
next to the library.)
JACKSON HOLE GOLF & TENNIS RESORT MASTER PLAN
AMENDMENT: Teton County Planning Commission, September
13, 6 p.m., County commissioners’ chambers,
200 S. Willow. The planning commissioners are scheduled
to discuss an application to change Jackson Hole
Golf & Tennis Resort’s master plan so
that dogs would be allowed in the resort’s
affordable housing development. While the Alliance
is supportive of both dogs and affordable housing
in the Jackson Hole community, we also support
keeping the master plan as it is. Prohibiting dogs
in this affordable housing development was a condition
of its approval, meant to help mitigate the development’s
high-density impacts in a sensitive area for wildlife.
Backing out on this commitment now would set a
bad precedent and lead to the erosion of protections
for wildlife. Click
here for our
full comments.
JACKSON PLANNING COMMISSIONER SOUGHT: The Town
of Jackson is accepting applications for a vacant
seat on the town’s planning commission until
September 14. Anyone interested in applying should
mail an application letter to Town Clerk Roxanne
Robinson at P.O. Box 1687, Jackson, WY 83001, or
email it to rrobinson@ci.jackson.wy.us.
Questions? Call Robinson at (307) 733-3932, ext.
1107.
JACKSON TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP: September 20, 3 p.m.,
Town Hall, 150 E. Pearl. The councilors are expected
to review the 2009 energy code and see if they’re
interested in adopting it to gain energy efficiencies
and savings. They may also discuss the Comp Plan
revision process moving forward.
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7) Conservation
Alliance news
KNIFFY HAMILTON JOINS ALLIANCE BOARD: The Alliance
welcomed newly retired Bridger-Teton National
Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton onto
its board of directors in August. Also recently
named to the board were retired health care administrator
Shirley Thomas and Taylor Phillips, owner of EcoTour
Adventures. For details, please click
here for
our press release.
FALL ALLIANCE NEWS AVAILABLE SOON: Our Fall magazine
will posted online the week of September 13. Along
with updates on our many issues and events, the
magazine includes a revised and condensed version
of our Citizen Activist Tool Kit, as well as a
Comp Plan Q&A with the candidates for the Jackson
Town Council and Teton Board of County Commissioners.
Please keep an eye out for it at www.jhalliance.org/library.htm.
ALLIANCE TROUT RUG RAFFLE KICKS OFF: What do 15
Jackson Hole women, high-quality wool and trout
have in common? The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance
Trout Rug Raffle! Only 300 chances for this one-of-a-kind,
heirloom-quality, beautiful, hand-stitched rug
will be sold. The drawing will be in September
2011 or when all 300 tickets have been sold, whichever
comes first. Tickets are $100 each, and you can
purchase yours by sending a check to P.O. Box 2728,
Jackson, WY 83001, stopping by the Alliance office
at 685 S. Cache
St., calling Lisa Rullman at (307)
733-9417 or buying them online via www.jhalliance.org/join.htm.
All proceeds support the Alliance’s work
to sustain our unique community by standing up
for the valley’s wildlife and quality of
life.
COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY: If you work for
the federal government (or know someone who does),
please consider the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance
for your Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) donation.
The Alliance is an approved charity in the 2010 Intermountain
Campaign, which last year raised more than $2.6 million
for charities in Utah, western Colorado, eastern
Idaho and Wyoming. Open to federal employees throughout
the nation, the CFC is the largest, most successful
workplace fundraising model in the world. Your CFC
donation to the Alliance will directly support work
to protect and enhance the public lands, wildlife
and natural resources of Jackson Hole, including
our efforts to keep the Bridger-Teton National Forest
headquarters in the valley. For more information
about the campaign, visit www.opm.gov/cfc.
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8) Coming
Events
Wednesday, September 8
Jackson Hole People’s
Market
4 to 7 p.m., Redeemer Lutheran Church grounds, 175 N. Willow
The Alliance will be the featured nonprofit at the September 8 People’s
Market, a weekly celebration of local food, art and music -- please stop by and
see us!
Friday, September 10
Eco Discussion at the Senior Center
Noon to 1 p.m., Senior Center of Jackson Hole,
830 E. Hansen
Join Steve Michael of Jackson Whole Grocer, Heather
Smith, and Becky Tillson of the Alliance for a
discussion about locally produced food. Contact
Becky for details at (307) 733-9417 or Rebecca@jhalliance.org.
Saturday, September 11
Old Bill’s Fun Run
10 a.m., Jackson Town Square
During the past 13 years, this amazing annual event
put on by the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole
has helped local charities raise more than $67.5
million and touched the lives of thousands. Visit www.cfjacksonhole.org/run_index.htm for
info on how you can participate, and see item
#1 above for details on contributing to the Alliance
through Old Bill’s.
Wednesday, September 15
Alliance Info Lunch on Vegetation Mapping
Noon to 1 p.m., Alliance office, 685 S. Cache
Join Derek Craighead of Craighead Beringia South
for a presentation on the preliminary findings
from the vegetation mapping project that the Alliance
contracted with them to complete. A comprehensive,
county-wide vegetation map will be an invaluable
tool for assessing our current inventory of wildlife
habitat and planning responsibly for the future.
Bring your questions and lunch; we’ll provide
drinks and snacks.
Saturday, September 18
World Premiere of “Light the Wick” by
Teton Gravity Research
Early show 5:30 p.m. (doors
open at 4:30 p.m.); Late show 8 p.m. (doors open
at 7 p.m.), Walk Festival Hall, Teton Village
Net proceeds from this premiere of Teton Gravity
Research’s latest film will benefit the Avalanche
Forecast Support Organization and the Jackson Hole
Conservation Alliance. (Thanks, TGR!) The event
includes athlete appearances, tons of giveaways,
live music and a presentation of the eagerly awaited “Light
the Wick” in full HD on a giant screen. Tickets,
available at Tobacco Row or online at www.wantickets.com,
are $13 for the film and $25 for the after party
at the Mangy Moose. Click
here for
more details.
Wednesday, October 6, through Friday, October 8
WYOPASS Conference
Snow King Resort
The Wyoming Planning Association is holding their
fall conference, titled “The Last of the
Old West,” in Jackson next month. Prices
(including a discount for locals), registration
details and the conference schedule are available
at www.wyopass.org.
The Alliance will be leading two panels, one on
grassroots involvement in local politics and the
other on wildlife management and public lands.
Questions? Contact organizer Jeff Noffsinger at jeff.noffsinger@hotmail.com or
(307) 699-0013.
Friday, October 15
Wild & Scenic Environmental
Film Festival
Pink Garter Theatre, 50 W. Broadway, Downtown Jackson
This Fall, the Alliance is once again partnering
with Patagonia and Skinny Skis to bring the largest
environmental film festival in the United States
back to Jackson! Come on over to the Pink Garter
Theatre at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 15, for the
Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival. Tickets
are $15 each and will be on sale at Valley Books
and at the Alliance office, 685 S. Cache, beginning
October 1. An eclectic mix of inspiring films, adventure
chronicles and calls to action, this film festival
features something for everyone. Fun raffle prizes,
refreshments and good company will be available both
before the show and at intermission. This year, we’re
also hosting two free programs for kids -- one in
the morning for elementary school classes and one
in the afternoon open to the public -- highlighting
films made by and for young people. Don’t miss
this one-day-only event! Click
here for the poster.
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9) Valley
Voices
“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime
of listening when you’d have preferred to
talk.”
- Doug Larson
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Alliance Action is a publication of the Jackson
Hole Conservation Alliance. The Conservation Alliance
is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated
to responsible land stewardship in Jackson Hole
to ensure that human activities are in harmony
with the area’s irreplaceable wildlife, scenic,
and other natural resources. We’re located
at 685 South Cache Street in Jackson, Wyoming.
Our mailing address is P.O. Box 2728, Jackson,
WY 83001-2728 and our phone number is (307) 733-9417.
If you'd like to sign up to receive our monthly
Alliance Action via email, please click
here.
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