Grand Teton Research Articles

Deglaciation and postglacial environmental changes in the Teton Mountain Range recorded at Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park, WY

Sediments contained in lake basins positioned along the eastern front of the Teton Mountain Range preserve a continuous and datable record of deglaciation and postglacial environmental conditions. Here, we develop a multiproxy glacier and paleoenvironmental record using a combination of seismic reflection data and multiple sediment cores recovered from Jenny Lake and other nearby lakes. Age control of Teton lake sediments is established primarily through radiocarbon dating and supported by the presence of two prominent rhyolitic tephra deposits that are geochemically correlated to the widespread Mazama (∼7.6 ka) and Glacier Peak (∼13.6 ka) tephra layers. Multiple glacier and climate indicators, including sediment accumulation rate, bulk density, clastic sediment concentration and flux, organic matter (concentration, flux, δ13C, δ15N, and C/N ratios), and biogenic silica, track changes in environmental conditions and landscape development. Sediment accumulation at Jenny Lake began centuries prior to 13.8 ka and cores from three lakes demonstrate that Teton glacier extents were greatly reduced by this time. Persistent ice retreat in Cascade Canyon was slowed by an interval of small glacier activity between ∼13.5 and 11.5 ka, prior to the end of glacial lacustrine sedimentation ∼11.5 ka. The transition to non-glacial sediments marks the onset of Holocene conditions at Jenny Lake and reflects a shift toward warmer summers, increased vegetation cover, and landscape stability in the Tetons. We discuss the Teton lake sediment records within the context of other regional studies in an effort to construct a comprehensive overview of deglaciation and postglacial environmental conditions at Grand Teton National Park.

Serological Survey for Antibodies to Mosquito-Borne Bunyaviruses Among US National Park Service and US Forest Service Employees

Serum samples from 295 employees of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM), Rocky Mountain National Park (ROMO), and Grand Teton National Park with adjacent Bridger-Teton National Forest (GRTE-BTNF) were subjected to serological analysis for mosquito-borne bunyaviruses. The sera were analyzed for neutralizing antibodies against six orthobunyaviruses: La Crosse virus (LACV), Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), snowshoe hare virus (SSHV), California encephalitis virus, and Trivittatus virus (TVTV) belonging to the California serogroup and Cache Valley virus (CVV) belonging to the Bunyamwera serogroup. Sera were also tested for immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies against LACV and JCV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proportion of employees with neutralizing antibodies to any California serogroup bunyavirus was similar in all three sites, with the prevalence ranging from 28% to 36%. The study demonstrated a seroprevalence of 3% to CVV across the three parks. However, proportions of persons with antibodies to specific viruses differed between parks. Participants residing in the eastern regions had a higher seroprevalence to LACV, with 24% (18/75) GRSM employees being seropositive. In contrast, SSHV seroprevalence was limited to employees from the western sites, with 1.7% (1/60) ROMO and 3.8% (6/160) GRTE-BTNF employees being positive. Seroprevalence to JCV was noted in employees from all sites at rates of 6.7% in GRSM, 21.7% in ROMO, and 15.6% in GRTE-BTNF. One employee each from ROMO (1.7%) and GRTE-BTNF (1.9%) were positive for TVTV. This study also has illustrated the greater sensitivity and specificity of plaque reduction neutralization test compared to IgG ELISA in conducting serosurveys for LACV and JCV.

Sources of nitrogen deposition in Federal Class I areas in the US

Abstract. It is desired to control excessive reactive nitrogen (Nr) deposition due to its detrimental impact on ecosystems. Using a three-dimensional atmospheric chemical transport model, GEOS-Chem, Nr deposition in the contiguous US and eight selected Class I areas (Voyageurs (VY), Smoky Mountain (SM), Shenandoah (SD), Big Bend (BB), Rocky Mountain (RM), Grand Teton (GT), Joshua Tree (JT), and Sequoia (SQ)) is investigated. First, modeled Nr deposition is compared with National Trends Network (NTN) and Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) deposition values. The seasonality of measured species is generally well represented by the model (R2 > 0.6), except in JT. While modeled Nr is generally within the range of seasonal observations, large overestimates are present in sites such as SM and SD in the spring and summer (up to 0.6 kg N ha month−1), likely owing to model high-biases in surface HNO3. The contribution of non-measured species (mostly dry deposition of NH3) to total modeled Nr deposition ranges from 1 to 55 %. The spatial distribution of the origin of Nr deposited in each Class I area and the contributions of individual emission sectors are estimated using the GEOS-Chem adjoint model. We find the largest role of long-range transport for VY, where 50 % (90 %) of annual Nr deposition originates within 670 (1670) km of the park. In contrast, the Nr emission footprint is most localized for SQ, where 50 % (90 %) of the deposition originates from within 130 (370) km. Emissions from California contribute to the Nr deposition in remote areas in the western US (RM, GT). Mobile NOx and livestock NH3 are found to be the major sources of Nr deposition in all sites except BB, where contributions of NOx from lightning and soils to natural levels of Nr deposition are significant (∼ 40 %). The efficiency in terms of Nr deposition per kg emissions of NH3-N, NOx-N, and SO2-S are also estimated. Unique seasonal features are found in JT (opposing efficiency distributions for winter and summer), RM (large fluctuations in the range of effective regions), and SD (upwind NH3 emissions hindering Nr deposition). We also evaluate the contributions of emissions to the total area of Class I regions in critical load exceedance, and to the total magnitude of exceedance. We find that while it is effective to control emissions in the western US to reduce the area of regions in CL exceedance, it can be more effective to control emissions in the eastern US to reduce the magnitude of Nr deposition above the CL. Finally, uncertainty in the nitrogen deposition caused by uncertainty in the NH3 emission inventory is explored by comparing results based on two different NH3 inventories; noticeable differences in the emission inventories and thus sensitivities of up to a factor of four found in individual locations.

Discourses of Elk Hunting and Grizzly Bear Incidents in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

ABSTRACTIncidents of human–wildlife conflict can solidify participant perspectives and expectations, and reveal underlying social and institutional dynamics. We describe and analyze two incidents of conflict between hunters and grizzly bears in 2011 and 2012. Both incidents were associated with the controversial elk hunt in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. We gathered quotes from opinion-editorials and interviews, categorized quotes according to type, and used cluster analysis to identify discourses and associated coalitions of participants. We examined how participants defined problems, used evidence, and advocated solutions in relation to these incidents. Participant discourses addressed technical and procedural issues of regional wildlife management that extended beyond these incidents, revealing divergent expectations about wildlife management on public lands. Existing decision-making processes dominated by government agencies do not appear to be addressing these expectations. We recommend an integrative, outside appraisal of regional elk management to address conflict and support ecologically sound decision-making that serves common interests.

Strategies to Save National Treasures

Strategies to Save National Treasures David J. Brown (bio) National Treasures. From a preservation perspective, the name quickly brings up images of iconic homes of presidents and business titans, the hallowed ground of battlefields, and elegant established neighborhoods from Charleston to San Francisco. But what if America’s National Treasures also brought to mind the badly deteriorated studio of an internationally acclaimed potter, who moved to California to escape the madness of 1930s Europe? Or a small village that lays claim as the country’s most successful utopian community, but now faces threats from a weakened levee system? Or the last known Spanish-period waterworks remaining on American soil, threatened by a decades-old plan that would obliterate the historic landscape? Or a deteriorated baseball stadium that once hosted the greats of Negro League baseball. Four years ago, when the National Trust for Historic Preservation refocused in order to expand the scale and implications of its work, the National Treasures program was at the heart of a new strategic plan entitled Preservation10X. The plan was framed as a way to increase our work and influence by a factor of ten. The National Treasures portfolio was developed to guide the Trust in engagement at places that tell the broad story of America. The work has been focused where the preservation implications are national in scope, the threats are critical, and the National Trust can make a unique contribution to the preservation solution. The Trust built its portfolio beginning with places where it was already engaged, such as Charleston, Chimney Rock and the White Grass Dude Ranch in Grand Teton. Soon, however, the Trust staff reached out to partners and others to identify a broader collection of places that allowed us to focus on the national implications of preservation and tell a more diverse American story. Four years later, we have a revolving portfolio of more than 50 National Treasure sites that are the focus of National Trust advocacy campaigns. This issue of Forum Journal examines how [End Page 3] the National Trust and a variety of partners have saved—and yes, occasionally failed to save—America’s National Treasures. Click for larger view View full resolution Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom is an example of the National Trust’s outreach to new communities and preservation allies. This recently named National Treasure was the center of Richmond’s slave trade, which played a pivotal role during the peak years of the nation’s interstate slave trade. Much of Shockoe Bottom has been razed and paved over, nearly forgotten by mainstream historians. Nevertheless, for many descendants of the enslaved, Shockoe Bottom remains sacred ground associated with suffering, injustice and resistance to slavery. PHOTO BY DAVID HERRING Guided by more than 60 years of experience, we are taking direct action to protect these places and promote their history and significance, while collaborating with local preservationists to help advance the cause of preservation nationally. In this issue of Forum Journal, our authors identify strategies that have helped save these places that help define us as Americans. National Treasures represent the diversity of our nation’s built history and remind all of us of the importance of preserving the irreplaceable places that tell America’s stories. From historic buildings to cultural landscapes, National Trust National Treasures are unique, movement-defining places of action—some of them iconic, others less familiar—that will galvanize support and spark greater public understanding of how preservation contributes to vibrant communities. Pond Farm is one such National Treasure. A modest property in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, Pond Farm was the home and studio of a nationally prominent ceramicist, Marguerite Wildenhain, who moved to America to escape Nazi persecution. Since Marguerite’s death in 1985, her home and barn have been unoccupied, and the elements and lack of routine maintenance have taken their toll. Pond Farm is located in Austin Creek State Recreation Area, and the ongoing funding crisis for California State Parks [End Page 4] continues to pose a direct threat to Pond Farm’s survival. Across the country, similar places that tell the stories of endurance and triumph are struggling for survival as government funding for preservation evaporates. Several...

Plains Spadefoot,Spea bombifrons, Confirmed in Yellowstone National Park

Established by an act of Congress in 1872, Yellowstone National Park (YNP) encompasses 8983 km of temperate zone habitat and contains a wide array of plant, animal, and microbial species. Although YNP contains almost 400 species of animals, it is not considered to have high amphibian diversity. There are 4 amphibian species known in the park: Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata); Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris); Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas); and Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium). The Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) is believed to be regionally extinct in YNP and Grand Teton National Park because the species has not been documented since the 1950s (Koch and Peterson 1995). Yellowstone National Park and its fauna have long been the focus of researchers from around the globe, but the discovery of a previously undocumented vertebrate happens infrequently. However, in 2014, a breeding population of Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons) was confirmed in YNP (Fig.1). Prior to this discovery, 1 of the 2 Spea species (S. bombifrons or S. intermontana) that naturally occur in the states surrounding YNP (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho) was reported in 1982 downstream of Fairy Falls on the west side of the park (Koch and Peterson 1995). The Plains Spadefoot has likely been present in YNP, but has gone undetected because of its fossorial lifestyle and limited distribution. Here, we describe our discovery of the Plains Spadefoot in YNP, the genetic analysis used to identify the species, and the characteristics of the breeding site. In the summer of 2013, a recently metamorphosed spadefoot was observed in an ephemeral pool in the Lower Geyser Basin east of Fairy Creek in YNP at an elevation of 2201 m. The identity of the species could not be confirmed because of morphological similarities between 2 spadefoot species (S. bombifrons and S. intermontana) that occur in the region, and the lack of prominent features in juveniles (Hall 1998; Behler and King 2005; Dodd 2013). The presence of a metamorph suggested that a breeding site was nearby, and the area was surveyed the following spring. Spadefoots were heard calling on the night of 20 May 2014, and 16 male spadefoots were captured on the night of 21 May 2014. Calls were heard until 25 May 2014, and spadefoot tadpoles were observed at the site shortly after the breeding season ended. The 2 species of spadefoots occur in 4 counties (Park Co., WY; Teton Co., WY; Park Co., MT; Gallatin Co., MT) that border and extend into YNP (Fig 2). These species are morphologically similar, with the size and texture of the hump between the eyes being the main distinguishing characteristic (Behler and King 2005). Therefore, tissue samples from 8 spadefoot tadpoles and 1 adult were sent to Pisces Molecular (Boulder, Colorado) for species identification using genetic analyses. Total DNA was extracted from all samples and amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to target a 407 base-pair segment of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (COX1) gene. For each sample, the sequence of both strands of the amplified fragment was determined using Sanger sequencing (BigDye v3.1, Life Technologies, Carlsbad, California) and an ABI 3130 Genetic Analyzer. The double strand sequence for each sample was aligned with each other and compared with the COX1 sequences for S. bombifrons and with S. intermontana COX1 regions from the BOLD Systems public database (accession numbers EANAA248-12 and EANAA119-12, respectively; http://www.bold systems.org/). The 9 sample COX1 amplicon sequences from the YNP spadefoots were completely identical, which indicated they were from the same species. When the consensus GENERAL NOTES

Paleolimnological Records of Nitrogen Deposition in Shallow, High-Elevation Lakes of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, U.S.A.

Reactive nitrogen (Nr) from anthropogenic sources has been altering ecosystem function in lakes of the Rocky Mountains, other regions of western North America, and the Arctic over recent decades. The response of biota in shallow lakes to atmospheric deposition of Nr, however, has not been considered. Benthic algae are dominant in shallow, high-elevation lakes and are less sensitive to nutrient inputs than planktonic algae. Because the benthic substrate is typically more nutrient rich than the water column, shallow lakes are not expected to show evidence of anthropogenic Nr. In this study, we assessed sedimentary evidence for regional Nr deposition, sediment chronology, and the nature of algal community response in five shallow, high-elevation lakes in Grand Teton National Park (GRTE). Over 140 diatom taxa were identified from the sediments, with a relatively high species richness of taxa characteristic of oligotrophic conditions. The diatom assemblages were dominated by benthic taxa, especially motile taxa. The GRTE lakes demonstrate assemblage-wide shifts in diatoms, including the following: (1) synchronous and significant assemblage changes centered on ca. A.D. 1960; (2) pre-1960 assemblages differed significantly from post-1960 assemblages; (3) pre-1960 diatom assemblages fluctuated randomly, whereas post-1960 assemblages showed directional change; and (4) changes in δ15N signatures were correlated with diatom community composition. These results demonstrate recent changes in shallow high-elevation lakes that are most correlated with anthropogenic Nr. It is also possible, however, that the combined effect of Nr deposition and warming is accelerating species shifts in benthic diatoms. While uncertainties remain about the potential synergy of Nr deposition and warming, this study adds shallow lakes to the growing list of impacted high-elevation localities in western North America.

Addressing a Persistent Policy Problem: The Elk Hunt in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

ABSTRACTThe elk reduction program (elk hunt) in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, has been controversial since its inception in 1950. We interviewed 35 stakeholders and surveyed literature to understand participant perspectives in relation to ongoing conflict. Stakeholders held conflicting perspectives, problem definitions, and value orientations. Hunt opponents felt their interests were not reflected in decision making, while hunt proponents were dissatisfied with federal agency management. Agency officials focused on technical aspects of elk management (e.g., overpopulation, objectives) and did not address conflict driven by underlying value dynamics. Decisions made by the agencies (National Park Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department) through the institution of wildlife management failed to integrate diverse interests. As a result, many nonagency participants felt disrespected by current decision-making arrangements. The long-term controversy has caused a persistent policy problem. We offer recommendations for how the social process could be better organized to build more effective governance and management.

Using Detection Dogs and Rspf Models to Assess Habitat Suitability for Bears in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract. In the northern U.S. Rockies, including the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), connectivity is a concern because large carnivores have difficulties dispersing successfully between protected areas. One area of high conservation value because of its importance for connecting the GYE to wilderness areas of central Idaho is the Centennial Mountains and surrounding valleys (2500 km2) along the Idaho—Montana border just west of Yellowstone National Park. The current expansion of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and other large carnivore populations outside protected areas of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park has placed a greater emphasis on potential linkage zones in the northern Rockies. Here we use black bears (Ursus americanus) as a test case to demonstrate the utility of using detection dogs and DNA analysis coupled with resource selection probability function (RSPF) models to examine habitat suitability for large carnivores in critical linkage zones. Detection dogs specificall...

Peaks, Politics and Passion: Grand Teton National Parks Comes of Age. By Robert W. Righter. Moose: Grand Teton Association, 2014. 294 pp. Illustrations, maps, notes, index.

<i>Peaks, Politics and Passion: Grand Teton National Parks Comes of Age.</i> By Robert W. Righter. Moose: Grand Teton Association, 2014. 294 pp. Illustrations, maps, notes, index.

Trends in Rocky Mountain amphibians and the role of beaver as a keystone species

Despite prevalent awareness of global amphibian declines, there is still little information on trends for many widespread species. To inform land managers of trends on protected landscapes and identify potential conservation strategies, we collected occurrence data for five wetland-breeding amphibian species in four national parks in the U.S. Rocky Mountains during 2002–2011. We used explicit dynamics models to estimate variation in annual occupancy, extinction, and colonization of wetlands according to summer drought and several biophysical characteristics (e.g., wetland size, elevation), including the influence of North American beaver (Castor canadensis). We found more declines in occupancy than increases, especially in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks (NP), where three of four species declined since 2002. However, most species in Rocky Mountain NP were too rare to include in our analysis, which likely reflects significant historical declines. Although beaver were uncommon, their creation or modification of wetlands was associated with higher colonization rates for 4 of 5 amphibian species, producing a 34% increase in occupancy in beaver-influenced wetlands compared to wetlands without beaver influence. Also, colonization rates and occupancy of boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas) and Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris) were ⩾2 times higher in beaver-influenced wetlands. These strong relationships suggest management for beaver that fosters amphibian recovery could counter declines in some areas. Our data reinforce reports of widespread declines of formerly and currently common species, even in areas assumed to be protected from most forms of human disturbance, and demonstrate the close ecological association between beaver and wetland-dependent species.

Governance Challenges in Joint Inter-Jurisdictional Management: The Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, Elk Case.

The controversial elk reduction program (elk hunt) in Grand Teton National Park, WY, has been a source of conflict since it was legislated in 1950. The hunt is jointly managed by the National Park Service and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. This forced organizational partnership and the conflicting mandates of these two agencies have led to persistent conflict that seems irresolvable under the current decision-making process. To better understand the decision-making process and participant perspectives, we reviewed management documents, technical literature, and newspaper articles, and interviewed 35 key participants in this case. We used these data to analyze and appraise the adequacy of the decision-making process for the park elk hunt and to ask whether it reflects the common interest. We found deficiencies in all functions of the decision-making process. Neither the decisions made nor the process itself include diverse perspectives, nor do they attend to valid and appropriate participant concerns. Agency officials focus their attention on technical rather than procedural concerns, which largely obfuscates the underlying tension in the joint inter-jurisdictional management arrangement and ultimately contributes to the hunt's annual implementation to the detriment of the common interest. We offer specific yet widely applicable recommendations to better approximate an inclusive and democratic decision-making process that serves the community's common interests.

Transport, biomass burning, and in-situ formation contribute to fine particle concentrations at a remote site near Grand Teton National Park

Ecosystem health and visibility degradation due to fine-mode atmospheric particles have been documented in remote areas and motivate particle characterization that can inform mitigation strategies. This study explores submicron (PM1) particle size, composition, and source apportionment at Grand Teton National Park using High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer data with Positive Matrix Factorization and MODIS fire information. Particulate mass averages 2.08 μg/m3 (max = 21.91 μg/m3) of which 75.0% is organic; PMF-derived Low-Volatility Oxygenated Organic Aerosol (LV-OOA) averages 61.1% of PM1 (or 1.05 μg/m3), with sporadic but higher-concentration biomass burning (BBOA) events contributing another 13.9%. Sulfate (12.5%), ammonium (8.7%), and nitrate (3.8%) are generally low in mass. Ammonium and sulfate have correlated time-series and association with transport from northern Utah and the Snake River Valley. A regionally disperse and/or in situ photochemical LV-OOA source is suggested by 1) afternoon concentration enhancement not correlated with upslope winds, anthropogenic NOx, or ammonium sulfate, 2) smaller particle size, higher polydispersity, and lower levels of oxidation during the day and in comparison to a biomass burning plume inferred to have traveled ∼480 km, and 3) lower degree of oxidation than is usually observed in transported urban plumes and alpine sites with transported anthropogenic OA. CHN fragment spectra suggest organic nitrogen in the form of nitriles and/or pyridines during the day, with the addition of amine fragments at night. Fires near Boise, ID may be the source of a high-concentration biomass-burning event on August 15–16, 2011 associated with SW winds (upslope from the Snake River Valley) and increased sulfate, ammonium, nitrate, and CHN and CHON fragments (nominally, amines and organonitrates). Comparison to limited historical data suggests that the amounts and sources of organics and inorganics presented here typify summer conditions in this area.

Morning in the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA

Morning in the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA

Exploring Vertical Wilderness in the Acoustic Environment

Hearing sounds of nature is an important motivation for visitors to National Parks, such as Grand Teton National Park (GRTE; Newman et al. 2015). Furthermore, managers are required to provide park visitors with an enjoyable soundscape experience. In 2006, Pilcher and Newman conducted a study on visitor perceptions of soundscapes in highly trafficked locations in GRTE, the Jenny Lake boat dock and Inspiration Point. While this study used similar methods, it aimed to better understand the influence of soundscapes to a unique visitor group -- climbers on the Grand Teton. This iconic climbing destination is located in an area that is potentially susceptible to anthropogenic or human caused noise interruptions because of its proximity to an airport and heavily used highways. In the summer of 2015 researchers from Penn State University used a combination of qualitative interviews and listening exercises with climbers to identify sounds that were being heard during their climbing experience and their emotions related to those sounds. These data provide managers with information about sounds that could be prioritized when managing for an optimal soundscape experience.

Characterizing Biodiversity of Alpine Streams in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

The highest rate of climate change is occurring in alpine areas above permanent treeline. The Teton Mountains in northwestern Wyoming are one of these ecosystem and little work has been done on alpine streams in the area. We sampled 6 streams in the Teton Mountains in 2015 at both upper and lower sites. We measured environmental variables (e.g., glacierality index, basic water quality, and temperature), aquatic invertebrate assemblages and microbial diversity. The water sources for sampled streams were glacier-fed, snowmelt and icy-seep. Aquatic invertebrate density (116-11,523 ind/m2) and biomass (31-21,704 mg/m2) varied greatly among streams. Snowmelt streams had the highest biomass of invertebrates, but the density and richness did not differ among stream types. Micrbial diversity in groundwater-fed springs harbored higher diversity than glacier-fed streams. The discovery of an icy-seep stream type lead us to sample rock glacier in the Teton Mountains during 2016. We hope to continue to sample alpine streams in the Teton Mountains to understand how climate change will alter streams of different types.

Methods in Geoscience Field Instruction: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Eight in-service teachers, one pre-service education student, three observers from other universities, and two instructors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln engaged in an inquiry-based geology field course from June 13 to 28, 2015 through Wyoming, South Dakota, and Nebraska. This commnity of learners spent three days working in the Grand Teton National Park area. Geological features and history present in Grand Teton National Park are an important part of the course curriculum. Large-scale extensional features of the Teton Range and Jackson Hole, and the glacial geomorphology and related climate changes of this area are some of the unique features examined here.

River Reach Delineations and Beaver Movement in Grand Teton National Park

This project had two components, with the first component providing a background for the second component. Water resources in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) are both unregulated and regulated by human management. The Jackson Lake Dam and the ponds scattered across the park influence the flow of water. In the process of managing the water it is important to have knowledge of the different components of the streams through which the water flows. One component of this project was to examine the different segments of the major rivers in GTNP and identify the river forms that are displayed by the different reaches of the Snake River above and below Jackson Lake, Buffalo Fork and Pacific Creek. The river form can be segregated into three main categories; the single channel, the meandering channel and the braided channel (Knighton 1984). The different river forms are part of the overall structural composition of the river and can be used to delineate the segments or reaches of the river. The river continuum concept presented by Vannote et al. (1980) provides a theoretical background upon which to construct the river reach system. In 2007, Nelson (2007) completed a reach system project while investigating the fluvial geomorphology of the Snake River below Jackson Lake Dam (Figure 1.). His 20 river reaches provided a zonation of the river that incorporated a range of geomorphic features. This same type of system can be used throughout the GTNP so that researchers have a common spatial unit designation when referencing portions of the Snake River and its tributaries. Ackers (1988) in his work on alluvial channel hydraulics identified three dimensions of meanders that should be considered; width, depth and slope. He further agreed with Hey (1978) that there are nine factors that define river geometry and that these should be considered as well: average bank full velocity, hydraulic mean depth, maximum bank full depth, slope, wave length of bed forms, their mean height, bank full wetted perimeter, channel sinuousity and arc length of meanders. Nelson’s work (Nelson 2007) added another parameter by including a braiding index into the representation of river reach designations. In a more recent work, the Livers and Wohl (2014) study confirmed Nelson’s approach by comparing reach characteristics between glacial and fluvial process domains using similar reach designation characteristics to determine reach differences.

A High-Resolution Geophysical Survey of Jenny Lake: Using Lake Sediments to Construct a Continuous Record of Tectonic Activity and Earthquake-Triggered Disturbances at Grand Teton National Park

The Teton Range, WY contains a legacy of late Cenozoic uplift and periodic Quaternary glaciations. Well-preserved fault scarps along the Teton fault displace glacier deposits from the most recent (Pinedale) glaciation and provide evidence for high fault activity during the past ~15,000 years. Observations of these scarps and previous field investigations indicate that postglacial fault offset occurred through a series of major, scarp-forming earthquakes. However, the postglacial paleoseismic record of the Teton fault remains incomplete. The goal of this project is to use lake sediments, contained in lake basins positioned on the fault, to construct a history of the timing and frequency of past earthquakes at Grand Teton National Park, and assess seismic impacts on diment erosion (e.g., landslides, debris flows, slope failures) and future hazard potential. Here, we report on multibeam sonar bathymetry and seismic reflection images from Jenny Lake, collected as part of an effort to identify glacial and tectonic landforms and to characterize infill stratigraphy. Our overarching objective is to combine these datasets with lake sediment cores from Jenny Lake and other nearby lakes to construct a continuous, accurately-dated record of past earthquakes and earthquake-generated slope failures in the Tetons.

River Otter Distribution and Food Habits in Grand Teton National Park as Part of an Ongoing Project in the GYE

Grand Teton National Park is part of the known range of the North American river otter, however not much is known about this semi-aquatic mammal within the park. The results presented here are part of a larger project to investigate the potential of the river otter (Lontra canadensis) to serve as an aquatic flagship (species that engender public support and action) for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. River otters, known for their charismatic behavior have the potential to serve as an aquatic flagship species to promote conservation of aquatic ecosystems. The primary objective of this portion of the study was to identify river otter latrines on portions of the Snake River, between Flagg Ranch and Jackson Lake, and between Jackson Lake Dam and Pacific Creek, collect river otter scats to determine diet of the river otter, and employ remote cameras to determine activity patterns of the river otters. Between 20 June and 1 July 2015, 26 river otter latrines were identified during shoreline surveys, 186 river otter scats were collected, and cameras were deployed at 6 latrines between 7 July and 24 August 2015. River otter scats have been cleaned and prepared for analysis, but have not all been processed to date. Camera traps recorded 222 images, of which 7% (n = 14) were of carnivores, 70% (n = 155) were of non-carnivore mammals, and 9% (n = 22) were of birds. River otters were detected at 1 of the 6 latrines, a total of 5 independent times during the study.