With Snake facing species invasion, group acts

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

By Ben Cannon

Jackson Hole, Wyoming - With the detection of a non-native, fast-spreading algae in Fish Creek recently, one valley advocacy group is working to inform recreational water users about what they can do to help prevent potentially disastrous effects to the valley’s venerated waterways.
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 31, the Snake River Fund, a valley nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Snake River and the tributaries that feed it, will host the 10th annual Summit on the Snake, an educational day for professional guides and all other river enthusiasts to learn about many aspects of river science, as well as how to prevent the spread of invasive species.

The algae found in Fish Creek south of Wilson last month, known as didymo or “rock snot,” can form into large mats and take over swaths of river bottom. It has spread widely in parts of New Zealand and has been blamed for a sharp decline in brown trout in South Dakota’s Rapid Creek.

Because of the threats posed by didymo and other invasive species, this year’s Summit on the Snake will feature a keynote address by Joe Starinchak, the outreach coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the national Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. Starnichak developed the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Campaign, enlisting the help of thousands of local and national partner groups, including the Snake River Fund, said
Jim Stanford, a spokesperson for the nonprofit.

Fish Creek is a tributary to the Snake River and is an important spawning ground for the fine-spotted cutthroat trout. As Stanford pointed out, it is also a “cherished” waterway for fly-fishing.

The summit will focus not only didymo, but also other invasive threats, including zebra mussels, mud snails and whirling disease. Participants can select from the more than dozen workshops and lectures - on river ecology, history and new legislation that could protect 400 Wyoming streams - that will be offered over the course of the day.

In addition to hosting Summit on the Snake, the Snake River Fund, using a grant from 1 Percent for the Tetons, recently bought three high-pressure washers to clean boats that have been in other waterways before they launch, helping to remove nonnative species. The group, which advocates fee-free public access, will also set up 10 dip stations at river access points from Wilson to Sheep Gulch.

At the conclusion of the summit, and to help celebrate the 10th year of the event, organizers will host what they are calling a mini-film fest with “stories about life and death on rivers.” Free pizza and desserts will be served and there will be a cash bar. The screenings are free and open to the public.

Registration for Summit on the Snake begins at 8:30 Saturday morning. Cost is $25 and includes breakfast and lunch. Call 734-6773 for more information.
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With Snake facing species invasion, group acts | Planet JH News Article: General Environment

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