Protect Our Water Jackson Hole Inc

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO PROTECT OUR WATER JACKSON HOLE (POWJH) TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN JACKSON, WY. THE GRANTEE WILL DO THIS BY USING THE TETON COUNTY RALLY FOR CLEAN WATER INITIATIVE TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND ADULTS IN TETON COUNTY, WYOMING, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING CLEAN DRINKING WATER AS PART OF A RALLY FOR CLEAN WATER COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN JACKSON, WY AND PROVIDE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE: AT LEAST EIGHT ADULT EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS OVER THE 2-YEAR PROJECT FOCUS ON WHAT THE 9,019 HOUSEHOLDS IN TETON COUNTY CAN DO TO PROTECT DRINKING WATERMDASH;SUCH AS TESTING FOR NITRATES IN DRINKING-WATER WELLS, PREVENTING BACKFLOW FROM RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATIONS SYSTEMS, AND CORRECTLY USING AND MAINTAINING INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL SEPTIC SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION, SCIENCE STUDENTS IN GRADE 9 AT JACKSON HOLE HIGH SCHOOL WILL LEARN ABOUT WATER QUALITY AND HOW TO TAKE FIELD WATER QUALITY MEASUREMENTS, INCLUDING HOW TO TEST SPECIFICALLY FOR NITRATES. STUDENTS ORGANIZE AND ADVERTISE ONE NITRATE TESTING EVENT PER YEAR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE THEY PROVIDE FREE TESTING KITS AND INSTRUCT ADULT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON HOW TO DO THEIR OWN TESTING. THIS PROJECT ALSO ENTAILS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS CURRICULUM FOR A WATER AWARENESS PROGRAM FOR ALL STUDENTS IN GRADE 6 IN THE TETON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A SERIES OF CLASSROOM LESSONS IN COLLABORATION WITH JH PUBLIC ART, FIELD TRIPS, AND CULMINATING IN AN ANNUAL RALLY FOR CLEAN WATER EVENT. THE PROJECT REACHES 810 STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 9 OVER THE TWO YEARS. ALSO, UNDER THIS PROJECT, PROTECT OUR WATER JACKSON HOLE WILL WORK WITH TETON COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND INCENTIVES PROGRAM TO REDUCE THE RISK OF DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATION, DISTRIBUTE DRINKING WATER EDUCATION MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AND ENSURE THAT A DIVERSE SEGMENT OF TETON COUNTY'S POPULATION IS ENGAGED IN THE INITIATIVE.SUBRECIPIENT:POWJH WILL DEVELOP A SUB-GRANTS PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT A DIVERSE SEGMENT OF TETON COUNTY'S POPULATION IS ENGAGED IN PROJECT ACTIVITIES. DURING THE GRANT PERIOD, POWJH WILL ASSIGN SPECIFIC FUNDING AMOUNTS TO SUBGRANTS, IS NO MORE THAN $5,000, AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED IN SUB-GRANTS EQUALS EXACTLY 25% OF THE TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT; AND DEVELOP RFP AND GRANT APPLICATION FORMS THAT ENSURE AWARDS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES: EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE: PROVIDE AT LEAST 4 ADDITIONAL ADULT WORKSHOPS AT THE RALLY FOR CLEAN WATER EVENT THAT INCREASES ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND COMMUNITY MOTIVATION, AND INSPIRE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, STEWARDSHIP, AND ACTION TO HELP PROTECT WATER RESOURCES AND REDUCE HUMAN HEALTH THREATS FROM WATER POLLUTION. WORK WITH 2 TEACHERS AND 169 STUDENTS TO PLAN, ORGANIZE, AND ADVERTISE ONE NITRATE-TESTING EVENT OPEN TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND TARGETED TOWARD RESIDENTS WITH PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELLS. USE THE TEST RESULTS TO HELP IDENTIFY TETON COUNTY DRINKING WATER 'NITRATE HOTSPOTS'. TETON COUNTY EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER QUALITY AND DRINKING WATER PROTECTION.

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO PROTECT OUR WATERS JACKSON HOLE TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN JACKSON, WYOMING. THE TETON COUNTY WATER AWARENESS INITIATIVE WILL EDUCATE AND MOTIVATE A COMMUNITY OF WATER QUALITY STEWARDS TOWARDS ACTION THAT PROTECTS GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER QUALITY, THEREBY INFORMING AND SAFEGUARDING BOTH HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. THE GRAVEL-BED RIVER FLOODPLAIN ECOSYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS TETON COUNTY IS AS FRAGILE AS IT IS BEAUTIFUL. WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION THREATENS OUR SOLE SOURCE AQUIFER AND THE WORLD-RENOWNED RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY OUR SURFACE WATERS. STREAMS ARE IMPAIRED FOR ALTERED HABITAT, E. COLI, AND (SOON) NUTRIENTS. EVEN THE MIGHTY SNAKE RIVER NOW EXPERIENCES ALGAL BLOOMS EVERY SUMMER AND FALL. THERE ARE GROUNDWATER PROBLEMS TOO. DEFICIENT WASTEWATER PERMITTING LAWS ALLOW FOR NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION TO ENTER THE SHALLOW GROUNDWATER ACROSS THE VALLEY. IN PARTS OF TETON COUNTY, RESIDENTS CANNOT SAFELY DRINK THEIR WELL WATER. IT IS ALSO LIKELY THAT MANY WHO CALL TETON COUNTY HOME ARE DRINKING UNSAFE WATER FROM AGING HOUSEHOLD INFRASTRUCTURE OR WELLS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY PROTECTED, MONITORED, OR MAINTAINED. PROGRAMS THAT EDUCATE AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES TO UNDERSTAND, RESTORE, AND PROTECT OUR WATER RESOURCES ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. TETON COUNTY NEEDS INFORMED, RESPONSIBLE WATER STEWARDS IF WE ARE TO PRESERVE THIS HEALTHY PLACE TO LIVE.ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN JACKSON AND PROVIDE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ALL PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL OCCUR WITHIN TETON COUNTY, WY. TEACHING ACTIVITIES WILL OCCUR AT JACKSON HOLE MIDDLE SCHOOL (JHMS) AND JACKSON HOLE HIGH SCHOOL (JHHS). OUTREACH ACTIVITIES WILL OCCUR AT THE JACKSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS, THE JACKSON HOLE SENIOR CENTER, AND PUBLIC PARKS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. ADULT PROGRAMMING WILL FOCUS ON SURFACE WATER PROBLEMS (WATERBORNE PATHOGENS AND HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS), GROUNDWATER QUALITY AND HUMAN HEALTH (DRINKING WATER SOURCES AND WELL-TESTING) AND RESPONSIBLE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT (SEPTIC AND SEWER SYSTEM BMPS). THE FOUNDATION OF THIS EDUCATIONAL APPROACH IS TO DRIVE ENGAGEMENT IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS LIKE LOCAL WELL-TESTING OPPORTUNITIES AND STATE-/NATIONWIDE CITIZEN SCIENCE REPORTING NETWORKS AND TO COMMUNICATE THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT THAT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN TETON COUNTY FACE FROM WATER POLLUTION. YOUTH PROGRAMMING WILL FOCUS ON THE CONNECTEDNESS OF GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER AND HIGHLIGHT HOW HUMAN ACTIVITY CAN PILE UP TO IMPROVE OR DEGRADE WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS. LESSONS WILL ALSO ILLUSTRATE HOW UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, BOTH LOCALLY AND IN OTHER CONTEXTS, OFTEN FACE THE BRUNT OF THE IMPACTS FROM WATER QUALITY CONTAMINATION THAT OFTEN COMES FROM 'OVERSERVED' COMMUNITY ACTIVITY. THESE EDUCATIONAL GOALS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING, OUTREACH EVENTS, AND STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES LIKE WATER QUALITY TESTING AND CITIZEN SCIENCE REPORTING.SUBRECIPIENT:POWJH PLANS TO PARTNER WITH THE LOCAL, PUBLIC SCHOOL AGENCIES JACKSON HOLE HIGH SCHOOL AND JACKSON HOLE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO EXPAND UPON THE TEACHING FOUNDATIONS BUILT FROM THE PREVIOUS GRANT. POWJH ALSO PLANS TO PARTNER WITH TETON CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AN ELIGIBLE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY, TO SUPPORT OUR WELL-TESTING PROGRAM. POWJH PLANS TO DEVELOP A SUB-GRANTS PROGRAM TO ENSURE WE ARE REACHING A DIVERSE SEGMENTS OF TETON COUNTY'S POPULATION, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERSERVED AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN PROJECT ACTIVITIES. WITH UPCOMING GRANT PERIODS, POWJH WILL ASSIGN SPECIFIC FUNDING AMOUNTS TO