Managing Water Resources in Grand Teton National Park

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1 Managing Water Resources in Grand Teton National Park Susan E. O'Ney Resource Management Biologist Greater Yellowstone Network 1

2 Park Service Mission: The National Park Service Organic Act of 1916, defined the mission of the National Park Service: "... to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations" Greater Yellowstone Network 2

3 Omnibus Management Act: National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998: "The Secretary shall undertake a program of inventory and monitoring of National Park System resources to establish baseline information and to provide information on the long-term trends in the condition of National Park System resources. " Greater Yellowstone Network 3

4 Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA): Long Term Goal Ia4. Water Quality: 85% of 265 Park units have unimpaired water quality Goal Description: The quality of water in the natural environment is a critical indicator for the health of that environment. Improved water quality enhances plant and animal species in the parks and can play a significant role in the safe recreational use of park resources. Almost 300 units of the National Park Service contain rivers, lakes, reservoirs, streams, springs, and wetlands, including 18 national riverways, 14 national seashores and lakeshores, and 12 parks containing major reservoirs. Greater Yellowstone Network 4

5 Water Resources The Upper Snake River Basin encompasses 35,800 square miles and flows 453 miles from the southern border of Yellowstone National Park to King Hill Idaho The Snake Headwaters, located in, are considered by the State and EPA to be Outstanding Natural Resource Waters (no degradation allowed) While we have no control of the water quality after it leaves Grand Teton National Park, Park Managers strive to maintain unimpaired water quality within Park boundaries Greater Yellowstone Network 5

6 Water Resource Issues Greater Yellowstone Network 6

7 Atmospheric deposition (in high elevation lakes) Greater Yellowstone Network 7

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9 Greater Yellowstone Network 9

10 Road aggregate mining and other pit and quarry operations Greater Yellowstone Network 10

11 Greater Yellowstone Network 11

12 Hydrologic modifications and associated floodplain management Greater Yellowstone Network 12

13 Greater Yellowstone Network 13

14 Bacteriological contamination from recreation (i.e. boating, camping etc.) Greater Yellowstone Network 14

15 Greater Yellowstone Network 15

16 Impacts due to grazing (i.e. sediment, fecal coliform) ) by both livestock and wild ungulates Greater Yellowstone Network 16

17 Greater Yellowstone Network 17

18 Water rights and irrigation issues Greater Yellowstone Network 18

19 Greater Yellowstone Network 19

20 Native Cutthroat Trout Fishery Maintenance of minimum flows (280 cfs) Effects of Jackson Lake Dam on fish habitat Greater Yellowstone Network 20

21 Greater Yellowstone Network 21

22 Water Related Research Water Quality and Bioassesment Monitoring of Greater Yellowstone Networks Streams A Plan to Monitor Aquatic Habitats in GTNP for Determination of Mosquito Larval Source Locations Baseline Water Quality Parameters/Land Use Characteristics of Five Snake Headwater Tributaries The presence of hydrocarbons in water and sediment of lakes in Tropho-dynamic Food Web of Marion Lake, an Alpine Lake Exhibiting the Effects of Glacial Snow Development of a Potential Beaver Habitat Model for the Snake River Basin in Greater Yellowstone Network 22

23 Water Related Research Nitrogen uptake and retention in streams of Grand Teton National Park Development of an Empirical Model for Predicting the Stream Invertebrate Fauna of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Rocky Mountain Snowpack Chemistry Monitoring Hyporheic invertebrate effects on nutrient cycling in streams Assessment of Aquatic Insects in the Snake River, Wyoming Snake River and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Subspecies Distribution Mapping Greater Yellowstone Network 23

24 Water Related Research Effects of Irrigation Ditches on Water Quality/Cutthroat Trout Habitat on Selected Snake River Tributaries in The impact and potential distribution of exotic New Zealand mud snails in Fish Creek Water Quality Reconnaissance Project Survey of Naegleria Inventory of Fish in Alpine Lakes in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Using watershed physical characteristics to predict the sensitivity to acidification and other environmental changes of high elevation lakes in Grand Teton National Park Snake River Gravel Pit Revegetation Greater Yellowstone Network 24

25 U. S. National Park Service Research and Reporting System Greater Yellowstone Network 25

26 Water Resource Monitoring Grand Teton Ground Water Monitoring Approximately 23 wells adjacent to sewage ponds and leach fields are presently being monitored and evaluated twice a year. Analysis includes depth to water, temperature, ph, alkalinity, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, fecal strep, fecal coliform, presence of nitrite, nitrate and chloride. National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) The first monitoring site was established in the Snake River - Flagg Ranch area in the early 90 s. A second site was established at Moose in 1996 Greater Yellowstone Network 26

27 Water Resource Monitoring Grand Teton Backcountry Water Quality Sampling Testing for fecal coliform began in 1996 in selected backcountry streams. Testing includes DNA sourcetracking of e-coli. Trophic State Evaluation of Selected Alpine Lakes Snake River Pit Ground Water Monitoring Synoptic Study of Snake River Tributaries Snow Pack Distribution Study Greater Yellowstone Network 27

28 Total Stations: 679 In Park: 407 Long Term: 16 Water Quality Stations Hydrologic Unit Boundary Lakes Streams W N S E Greater Yellowstone Network 28

29 GRTE - Long Term Stations Long Term Stations Hydrologic Unit Boundary Lakes Streams W N S E Greater Yellowstone Network 29

30 Greater Yellowstone Network Water Quality Monitoring Plan Greater Yellowstone Network 30

31 Proposed Water Quality Monitoring Goals: 1. Monitor quality impaired waters to enable the Network to determine whether the overall goal of improved water quality is being achieved 2. Monitor ONRWs and other pristine waters to: Allow characterization of existing water quality and to identify changes or trends in water quality over time, and Allow identification of specific existing or emerging water quality problems Greater Yellowstone Network 31

32 GRYN Monitoring Plan The end product will be a detailed water quality monitoring plan specifying: the major/most significant water bodies identified in the Network location of the monitoring stations to be established the parameters to be measured at each station with the data objectives of that monitoring the sampling protocols to be followed (may vary by state) the quality assurance and quality control measures, and any statistical analysis of the data that will be undertaken. Greater Yellowstone Network 32

33 U. S. National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program Greater Yellowstone Network 33

SMALL WATER PROJECTS PROGRAM 101 BY. JODIE PAVLICA, P.E. SMALL WATER PROGRAM MANAGER WYOMING WATER DEVELOPMENT OFFICE 3/20/18

SMALL WATER PROJECTS PROGRAM 101 BY. JODIE PAVLICA, P.E. SMALL WATER PROGRAM MANAGER WYOMING WATER DEVELOPMENT OFFICE 3/20/18 TODAY S TOPICS SMALL WATER PROJECT PROGRAM To provide grant funding for Small