Snake River Headwaters - Newsletter #1

What comes to mind when you think about the Snake River Headwaters? A wild river and its tributaries flowing through an iconic landscape? The thrill of a demanding whitewater boating experience? A familyfriendly place to explore magnificent scenery and view abundant wildlife? A place that compels us to learn about the largest intact ecosystem in the lower 48 states or to better understand the history of those who thrived on this land before us?

The Snake River Headwaters is all of this and much more. To help us protect this river system for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations, we are embarking upon the development of a comprehensive river management plan for this newly designated wild and scenic river system. The scope of this effort is to complete a plan and environmental assessment for designated portions of the Snake River Headwaters located within and along the boundary of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. In coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the plan will also include a portion of the Gros Ventre River, which is a tributary of the Snake River and serves as the boundary between Grand Teton National Park and the National Elk Refuge. In coordination with the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is working on a separate, but concurrent plan for river segments located within the adjacent Bridger-Teton National Forest.

We urge you to read about our planning effort in this newsletter and to share your thoughts with us about what makes the Snake River Headwaters so remarkable to you. Thank you for sharing your passion for this new addition to the National Wild and Scenic River System by helping us shape its future.

Topic Questions:

1. Please tell us what makes the Snake River Headwaters area special to you and why?

2. When you visit the Snake River or its tributaries, what activities and experiences are most important to you?

3. Do the outstandingly remarkable value statements accurately describe the river-related values of the Snake River and its tributaries? Is there any missing information we should consider?

4. What opportunities exist for protecting and enhancing the Snake River Headwaters and its outstandingly remarkable values?

5. What issues exist related to protecting and enhancing the Snake River Headwaters and its outstandingly remarkable values?

6. When you visit the Snake River or its tributaries have you experienced any conflicts with other types of visitor activities? If so, what was the conflict and circumstance?

7. Imagine you are visiting the Snake River Headwaters area 20 years from now. What river conditions, experiences, visitor services, and facilities would you like to see? Would there be any changes from the present?

8. Please share any additional comments or suggestions.

Document Content:

Snake River Headwaters Newsletter #1   (2.3 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.