FIELD NOTES
Curious about what’s going on at Teton Conservation District? Check out our blog, Field Notes!
in-office food waste composting
March 27, 2024
Teton Conservation District launched a new internal program to streamline composting for staff. Will your office join the movement?
flat creek watershed improvement district
October 18, 2023
Learn about the mission of the Flat Creek Watershed Improvement District, a sub-board of Teton Conservation District. Their Board of Directors work closely with the Town of Jackson to mitigate the threat of flooding in the cold winter months.
VISION AWARD CELEBRATES SAM JEWISON AND SOPHIE LAMB
July 13, 2023
We are proud to announce Sam Jewison and Sophie Lamb as the recipients of the second annual Teton Conservation Vision Award. These individuals share a commitment to local conservation and have actively worked to make an impact in our community.
WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT WINTER RANGE?
March 23, 2023
In early March, Wyoming Game and Fish Department reported that over 50% of tracked mule deer fawns have succumbed to severe winter conditions so far this year. Average winterlong mortality is closer to 25%. The lack of winter range is recognized as one of the most significant limiting factors to mule deer populations.
MINIMIZING WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN TETON COUNTY
March 16, 2023
Whether intentional or unintentional—feeding wildlife does more harm than good. Check out this blog post to learn more about wildlife feeding and watch a short video produced by our partners at Teton County.
Photo by Shivyon Mitchell
MEET THE BOARD: ROBY HURLEY
Marcb 1, 2023
Roby Hurley joined Teton Conservation District’s board in 2019 and was elected as board chair in December 2022. His background in local and state government, wildlife conservation, agriculture, water quality, and watershed best practices are invaluable to Teton Conservation District. Want to get to know Roby? Read on…
THE MOUNTAIN NEIGHBOR HANDBOOK: A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES
February 7, 2023
Have you read The Mountain Neighbor Handbook? Are you curious what happened behind the scenes to create this community resource?
BIRD FLU: WHAT CAN YOU DO?
January 26, 2023
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly called bird flu, is wiping out chickens across the country and driving egg shortages and rises in prices. The virus is also infecting wild birds and a handful of mammals. It’s the largest outbreak of avian flu in US history. What can you do to help prevent the spread?
Meet the Staff: Phoebe
January 18, 2023
As Communications Specialist, Phoebe works to promote Teton Conservation District’s programs, projects, and grant opportunities. She loves connecting people to the natural world and working with the community to conserve natural resources.
WINTER '23: SNOWPACK AND WATER UPDATE
January 10, 2023
With the early part of the snowpack-building season underway, here are some metrics to understand and keep an eye on as winter progresses.
SEPTIC SYSTEM EFFLUENT STUDY COMPLETED
January 4, 2023
After roughly a year and a half of data collection and analysis, the Teton County Septic System Effluent Monitoring Study is complete. This is the most rigorous study of septic system function performed in the cold temperatures and coarse soils of Teton County.
MORGAN'S NATURE NOTEBOOK - EPISODE 13 - MICRO-HABITAT
September 28 , 2022
Globally, more than 40 percent of bee species are vulnerable to extinction. There are 700-800 bee species in Wyoming, most of which are solitary, and overwinter in ground cavities, hollow stems, or leaf litter.
What you do in your backyard matters! Check out this episode of Morgan’s Nature Notebook to learn how you can create micro-habitat in your backyard for bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PLANTS NATIVE POLLINATOR GARDEN
September 20, 2022
Jackson Hole High School is home to six acres of Kentucky bluegrass. High school senior Sophie Lamb is working to change that.
SPREAD CREEK PROJECT PROTECTS CUTTHROAT TROUT
September 13, 2022
In 2010, the Spread Creek dam—an obsolete, crumbling diversion dam located just outside of Grand Teton National Park on Bridger-Teton National Forest land—was removed by a collaborative effort led by Trout Unlimited. This project has opened up over 50 miles of the Spread Creek watershed to migratory Snake River cutthroat trout for the first time in more than 50 years.
A PRICKLY AFFLICTION
September 8, 2022
A confession…on these azure blue August days, I sometimes imagine myself as a moose browsing an endless buffet of thistle blossoms. For the past 10 or so years I devote about 40 late summer hours to mechanically removing millions of musk thistle (and other) seeds from otherwise high-quality habitat.
Plains pricklypear by Matt Lavin
The Coolest Cacti in the West
September 1, 2022
Did you know Jackson Hole is home to two native cacti species? Brittle prickly pear (Opuntia fragilis) and plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha). Unlike other plants that release carbon dioxide when they die and decompose, cacti sequester the CO2 they absorb into the soil around them in the form of solid calcium carbonate.
THE JACKSON HOLE CONNECTION EPISODE 204 WITH CARLIN GIRARD
August 25, 2022
Join our Executive Director, Carlin Girard, on episode 204 on The Jackson Hole Connection.
TO FISH OR NOT TO FISH?
August 11, 2022
Warmer water temperatures can impact fish survival, especially native Snake River cutthroat trout. When water temperature hits 70⁰FWyoming Game & Fish Department recommends that anglers stop catch and release fishing. Anglers who adjust their practices can help more fish survive the heat this summer.
HOW DO WE KNOW WE’RE IN A DROUGHT?
July 29, 2022
Everybody says we’re in a drought…but how do we know? As the summer progresses and streamflows recede, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that Teton County is in a “Severe Drought.” In this post, we summarize a few ways that drought conditions are monitored.
Brewer’s sparrow by Becky Matsubara
Counting birds in the gros ventre
July 27, 2022
The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) began in 1966 in response to rising concerns over population-level impacts of pesticide use and habitat loss, as highlighted by scientists like Rachel Carson in Silent Spring. BBS captures integral data for local conservation efforts—and helped identify the staggering loss of 2.9 billion breeding birds since 1970.
WHAT ARE BUGS SAYING ABOUT FLAT CREEK?
July 21, 2022
Shhh…if you listen carefully, you might hear the bugs in Flat Creek talking to you. Just kidding, but only partially. Benthic macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs) are “canaries in the coalmine” for stream health because these little bugs are sensitive to changes in water quality and stream habitat.
Battle Mountain standing above the Wild & Scenic Hoback River. Photo: Jared Baecker // Snake River Fund
HOW'S THE HOBACK RUNNING? CHECK OUT THE NEW USGS STREAMGAGE
June 28, 2022
A new USGS streamgage was recently installed on the Hoback River near Hoback Junction. Click here to see real-time discharge (CFS), height, and temperature data.
Snake River Fund, Teton Conservation District, and USGS partnered on this streamgage to provide better data for the public, river recreationists, and water resource managers.
Photo by Taylor Glenn, courtesy of Rob Dearing
TETON CONSERVATION VISION AWARD CELEBRATES ROB DEARING
May 19, 2022
Teton Conservation District is proud to announce that Rob Dearing is the recipient of the inaugural Teton Conservation Vision Award for his contributions to wildfire risk reduction in our community.
STATE OF THE SNOWPACK
April 29, 2022
It’s been an interesting winter to watch our snowpack develop. From our massive New Year winter storm to the January and February dry spell, to the recent weeks of valley rain and mountain snow—we have certainly been hanging onto our hats this season.
PLEASE THE BEES! PARTICIPATE IN OUR PERENNIAL POLLINATOR PROGRAM
April 4, 2022
We’re thrilled to announce a new pilot program in partnership with Piney Island Native Plants. The Perennial Pollinator Program (PPP) is your chance to add five pollinator-friendly native wildflowers to your home landscape. Each lot contains seven 1.5” x 8.25” rooted plugs (35 total) of 1) Blanketflower 2) Rocky Mountain Penstemon 3) Western Yarrow 4) Wild Bergamot and 5) Smooth Aster.
Morgan's Nature Notebook - Episode 12 - Edmiston Spring
March 29, 2022
Whelp, the snow sure is going fast…but where’s it all going?
In Episode 12, Morgan finds a long-lost friend and meets up with Derek Ellis with the Jackson Hole Land Trust and David Lee with Teton Conservation District to learn about Edmiston Spring and how to estimate the amount of sediment in a snow pile.
Bighorn Sheep Nutrition & Disease
March 23, 2022
Pneumonia is often the culprit for massive bighorn sheep population crashes. But infected herds can experience very different population trends—why?
MEET THE STAFF: DAVID LEE
January 11, 2022
Meet David Lee, our newest staff member here at Teton Conservation District! Want to learn more about David? Enjoy this Q&A with him!
TAVNER WILSON CONDUCTS SOIL HEALTH EXPERIMENT IN ALTA
January 4, 2022
What happens to soil health if cropland is left to rest for a year?
Tavner Wilson, who owns and operates Bar W Agriculture with his family in Alta, Wyoming, wanted to find out.
MORGAN'S NATURE NOTEBOOK - EPISODE 11 - GROUSE IN THE HOUSE
December 21, 2021
Happy Holidays Friends! Ohhhh do we have a special edition of Morgan’s Nature Notebook for you – Grouse in the House! Did you know we have four species of grouse in Teton County? Sage grouse get all the attention, but the other three species are pretty cool too! Bonus feature – stay tuned until the end of the episode for our first-ever music video!
WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT WINTER RANGE?
December 17, 2021
The lack of winter range is widely recognized as one of the most significant limiting factors to mule deer populations. Winter range is the topography, and habitat that mule deer require to survive deep snow, frigid temperatures, predation threats, and human-caused stress.
NEW EDUCATIONAL SIGN CELEBRATES KARNS MEADOW
December 6, 2021
Join us at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 for the new Karns Meadow sign ribbon-cutting and remarks by Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson and Town of Jackson and Teton Conservation District staff.
WILSON NEIGHBORHOOD RECOGNIZED FOR WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION
November 30, 2021
Hidden Hills Ranches, a subdivision south of Wilson, was recently recognized as a Firewise® USA site—a National Fire Protection Association program that recognizes neighborhoods for taking proactive steps to reduce the risk of property damage from wildfire and improve safety for residents and firefighters.
5TH GRADERS STOKED ON STEWARDSHIP
November 22, 2021
Munger Mountain 5th graders are stoked on pulling weeds! Sixty students teamed up with Teton County Weed & Pest District and the National Elk Refuge to learn about wildlife habitat and pull 100+ pounds of invasive weeds around their school.
WHAT'S THE RUEHLING on FISH AND FLAT CREEKS?
October 25, 2021
University of Wyoming master’s student Kelsey Ruehling (pronounced ‘ruling’) is on a mission to find out where microbial pollution in Fish Creek and Flat Creek is originating from.
Morgan's Nature Notebook - Episode 10 - Fall Colors
September 30, 2021
Do you love fall as much as Morgan? Or is he the only one cuddling with thimbleberry leaves? In this episode of Morgan’s Nature Notebook, we explore why trees and shrubs lose their leaves and what makes them change color.
Tom Segerstrom to Retire, Carlin Girard Welcomed as New Executive Director
September 23, 2021
Tom Segerstrom, our Executive Director for the past six years, is retiring this November. Carlin Girard, our Water Resources Specialist & Associate Director, was selected to be our new Executive Director.
DROUGHTREACH PART II: TETON COUNTY IS IN SEVERE DROUGHT
July 22, 2021
Hello Teton County, Wyoming, it’s your local Teton Conservation District telling you it’s time to think about how we are using our water. We are a facing a record low water year, and seeing a record year for water use. We need to limit wasteful water consumption for landscaping and in our homes.
Morgan's Nature Notebook - Episode 9 - Birding by Ear
July 21, 2021
Do you like birds? But can't tell one from another? This episode is for you! Did you know that ornithologists (a.k.a. bird scientists) identify about 90% of species by their song or call!? In this episode, Morgan offers some tips on learning to bird by ear!
What is Teton Conservation District?
June 18, 2021
Have you ever wondered what we do? Or what is a conservation district? Check out our new illustrated video created by On Board Innovations to learn all about us!
NATIVE SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: CALYPSO ORCHID
June 14, 2021
Also called fairy slipper or Venus's slipper, this delicate native spring flower is a special treat to see. If you are lucky enough to spot one, tread lightly—the Calypso orchid is considered vulnerable to extirpation or extinction.
Droughtreach part I: WHAT’S UP WITH WATER? A LOOK AT SNOWPACK AND DISCHARGE
June 10, 2021
At Teton Conservation District, we like water. And behind the scenes, we work with water data to help forecast water issues and assist people in mitigating problems. The analysis we present here is intended to help people visualize our current ‘water year’ from both a snowpack and water flow perspective.
MORGAN'S NATURE NOTEBOOK - EPISODE 8 - NATIVE GRASS!
May 11, 2021
This episode of Morgan’s Nature Notebook was created for Wildlife Expo, an annual event hosted by the Jackson Hole Weed Management Association for all Teton County, Wyoming 4th-graders. In this lesson and activity, you’ll learn about native grass adaptations and how to plant your very own grass-terpiece!
DANCES WITH WOLVES…AND ELK
May 5, 2021
University of California Berkeley PhD student, Kristin Barker, and one of her field technicians, Zach Andres, posthole up a steep slope in the Gros Ventre Mountains, working their way towards a cluster of GPS points left by wolf collars a few days before. The points on their GPS screen indicate that the wolf pack stopped there….
MORGAN'S NATURE NOTEBOOK - EPISODE 7 - WINTER WILDLIFE CLOSURES
March 29, 2021
Do you like beta testing sick lines?? So do we. But, it's especially important to respect these last few weeks of wildlife closures. Why? Watch the latest episode of Morgan’s Nature Notebook to find out.
SNOW PILE REMOVAL ENHANCES TETON COUNTY WATER QUALITY
March 22, 2021
Teton Conservation District and the Jackson Hole Land Trust recently partnered with Teton Heritage Landscaping to remove snow storage piles adjacent to Edmiston Spring. The project prevented an estimated 1088 pounds of sediment from draining into the spring, which is a valuable nursery for juvenile Snake River cutthroat trout.
HAPPY PLANT A FLOWER DAY!
March 12, 2021
These sunny days make it feel like spring is just around the corner…it’s also Plant a Flower Day! To celebrate, enjoy these pictures and fun facts “cultivated” by our very own Morgan Graham, GIS & Wildlife Specialist for Teton Conservation District.
DON'T FEED WILDLIFE
February 11, 2021
Some kind-hearted folks out there may think it’s a good time to put out snacks for our wild neighbors. While they mean well, feeding wildlife—and mule deer in particular—does more harm than good.
TETON CONSERVATION DISTRICT CELEBRATES 75 YEARS!
January 21, 2021
In celebration of our conservation heritage, here are some photos from our historic photo archive, and a reflection on our history.