JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Wyoming Pollution Prevention Program (WP3) recognizes the Town of Jackson and its supporting partners for their efforts in becoming an environmental stewardship leader.
The Town of Jackson recently was recognized at the Platinum Level within the WP3 after achieving pollution reduction in numerous areas and sustainability efforts. These accomplishments include the 10×10 initiative which “committed to reducing electricity and fuel used in government operations by 2010”, the idle free program which has reduced the amount of CO2 and other harmful pollutants in the air, use of diesel-hybrid buses for public transportation, and the Karns Meadow Storm Water Treatment Wetland Project.
“The Town of Jackson has set a shining example of how to ‘walk the walk’ when it comes to energy and emissions reductions,” said Phillip Cameron, Executive Director for the Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coalition. “Further, their key role in supporting Southern Tetons Area Rapid Transit (START) contributes to saving more than 100,000 gallons of fuel annually and eliminates roughly 500,000 car trips on our local roads with approaching 1 million annual riders.”
“It’s really an honor to be receiving recognition from our DEQ in Wyoming on our efforts on sustainability, water quality and environmental initiatives,” said Mark Barron, Mayor of Jackson. “Here we are in Jackson Hole and I feel very strongly and so does our community, that we have a responsibility to showcase what is possible in terms of energy sustainability and setting examples for water quality.”
The Wetland project was a joint venture with DEQ, The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Trout Unlimited, Teton Conservation District, Jackson Hole One Fly, Jackson Hole Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, 1% For the Tetons, and the Jackson Hole Land Trust that improved Flat Creek water quality as well as the habitat for wildlife and local trout populations.
Randy Williams with the Teton County Conservation District said that the Karns Meadow Stormwater Wetland is a great example of collaboration of partners to address natural resource protection.
“Flat Creek has been on the impairment list due to stormwater runoff,” said Williams. “The TOJ and Teton Conservation District, with the visioning of the Pete Karns family, partnered with Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Jackson One Fly, 1% for the Tetons, Jackson Hole Land Trust, and the Wyoming DEQ with a 319 Water Quality Grant to plan, design, and build this 4 acre stormwater treatment wetland that treats runoff from approximately 1/3 of the TOJ and is estimated to prevent up to 200 tons of sediment annually from going into Flat Creek.”
The Flat Creek project was just one of many that the town and surrounding partners have cooperated to make environmental impact reductions. These successful efforts are what gives the community a sense of pride for being environmental leaders within the state.
