Keeping Our Water Clean

Last week I visited with John Brown, who is employed by Fremont County to oversee the Island Park sewer system. There were a couple of issues that will need to be addressed due to the increase in visitors and residences in the caldera.

The first issue is that the EPA is concerned with the amount of discharge emanating from the Last Chance sewage treatment operation. They are worried that excessive amounts of organic compounds will enter the Henry’s Fork, stimulating the growth of the river’s vegetation and damaging the river’s ecosystem. Their initial proposal was to impose a mandatory fifty percent reduction of treated waste water to the plant. This would present a serious problem to the Last Chance residents.  

John is exploring an alternative of planting trees, grass or some other type of harvestable crop in the sewage drain field. The concept is that plants would absorb the excess nutrients before reaching the water system. The plants would be harvested regularly and removed from the area.

The second issue he mentioned was that the growth in Shotgun will necessitate a sewer system within ten years. He indicated that pollution is becoming evident in the streams and ground water. He is in the process of searching for a federal source of funding for a possible sewer system.

Fortunately we have people like John who work to maintain the balance between the environment and those who love to spend time in Island Park.