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Jackson council votes to continue voluntary water-quality monitoring downstream of Wetland 4
Summary
Council unanimously directed staff to continue voluntary water-quality testing downstream of Wetland 4, publish the results, and return with a full report in two years after staff presentations showed substantial nutrient reductions through the town's constructed wetland series.
The Jackson Town Council voted unanimously Nov. 17 to continue voluntary water-quality monitoring at sampling points downstream of Wetland 4 and to make the data publicly available.
Staff presented results from about 2 1/2 years of monitoring showing progressive reductions in nitrate, ammonia and phosphorus as treated effluent passes through a series of constructed wetlands before entering the Snake River. "The staff recommendation is to continue additional testing downstream of Wetland 4," Ecosystem Stewardship Administrator Tanya Anderson told the council.
Anderson and Interim Public Works Director Johnny Ziem said the town's monitoring is voluntary — not required by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality — and is intended to measure the environmental effect of treated effluent where it reaches the river, including potential impacts on cutthroat trout and other aquatic life. Staff emphasized Wetland 4 is still maturing and that three to five full seasons are useful to evaluate long-term performance.
Councilors asked detailed questions about sampling locations, winter sampling constraints and microplastics. Ziem said testing locations include the UV treatment building (the permit point), the headworks, the borrow pond, Wetland 3 and two points in Wetland 4; the town hopes to add a more distal test point as the wetland continues to mature.
Jen Evans of Protect Our Water Jackson Hole urged winter testing and groundwater monitoring, suggesting remote sensors could reduce disturbance to elk in the wetland area.
Councilor Espirit moved, and Councilor Regan seconded, a direction for staff to continue collecting data downstream of Wetland 4, present results to the council in two years, and share the data via the town website, social media, a published think piece and a council "chat." The motion passed unanimously.
Councilors and staff said next steps include completing the 2025 dataset for publication, continuing seasonal monitoring where feasible, and returning with a consolidated report in approximately two years.
