The weather around Western Wyoming has begun its transition into late fall mode. The cottonwoods and aspens have completely shed their leaves, the sky is grey and the wind is blowing. A winter storm watch is in effect for the weekend and the 2010 fly-fishing season is now a distant memory for me. Time to start thinking about some skiing! In the meantime, here is yet another update regarding the Green River dam proposal for the Warren Bridge area.
The last report I gave made it sound as if this project had no possibility of going through. There was yet another article to run on this story in the Jackson Hole Daily last week. Click this link for all of the details: http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=6676 The recommendation from the Wyoming Water Development Commission to not fund this study apparently stemmed from opposition from Governor Dave Freudenthal. It now looks like our new Governor-elect Matt Mead may in fact support this project. Let's hope not!
Just after this story ran, another disturbing story made the front page a day later. There is growing support over the hill in Idaho to rebuild the Teton Dam, on the Teton River. This project would flood and fill the beautiful Teton Canyon. The original dam broke on June 5, 1976 releasing 300,000 acre feet of water and killing 14 people. Idaho farmers are worried about back-to-back drought years and think that rebuilding this dam will solidify their water needs. This has yet to be determined. The Teton Canyon is a critical winter range for Mule Deer and Elk, not to mention a pristine fishery for wild trout. Click this link for more info: http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=6679 There certainly must be other solutions out there to address the water needs of farmers and ranchers. Here's to more days like this on the Green River...good times with Scott Smith and Tom Montgomery. Happy Thanksgiving!
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