Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Teton County approves short-term hold-harmless for Wilson boat ramp; staff preparing river work
Summary
Commissioners authorized an indemnification agreement with Rendezvous Lands Conservancy to allow Parks & Recreation to proceed with riverbank/eddy work at Wilson boat ramp pending permitting; staff described floodplain permitting and coordination with contractors and river partners.
The Teton County Board of Commissioners on July 7 approved a short-term indemnification (hold-harmless) agreement with the Rendezvous Lands Conservancy to allow county crews and contractors to address hazardous flow and eddy conditions at the Wilson boat ramp.
Parks Superintendent Andy Erskine told commissioners he had provided a staff report and stood ready to answer questions. Erskine said the county "has permission from the RPARC, which is the first step. The floodplain review permit is the last piece of that, and it's with our floodplain administrator right now. He communicated with me last week that he should be able to turn that around pretty quickly. We're ready to move as soon as we get that back," he said.
Commissioner Karlman described river safety problems he had seen over the Fourth of July weekend and praised Parks and Rec staff for on-site interventions. He said, "The boat ramp is a mess right now... people putting in there are having to drag their boats upstream" and recounted rescuing a kayaker downstream when staff could not reach the person fast enough.
Erskine explained that placement or removal of river material to create an eddy can require additional floodplain permits: "moving and creating an obstacle in the river is an additional permit that has to go through the floodplain administrator...as far as removing material and and placing it and creating a built up backstop, that would require additional permitting." He said the county often waits for water levels to drop when possible and may be able to create an eddy by removing material without constructing a permanent backstop.
Commissioner Carleman moved "to approve the signing of the indemnification of Landhold Harmless Agreement with Rendezvous Lands Conservancy to be effective 07/07/2025 through 09/30/2025." The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
Staff said they would coordinate notifications with Orion and Snake River Fund and provide commissioners advance notice when heavy equipment would work in the river.
