A moderately newsy past seven days for Star Valley Ranch; here’s your news roundup for the week of February 18th, 2024:
Tuesday, February 20th the Town of Star Valley Ranch (TSVR) Travel & Tourism (T&T) Board held its inaugural meeting at Town Hall (see the agenda here). During the meeting the T&T Board elected a Chairman and Vice-Chairman and received a financial report from the Town Treasurer. Currently nearly $47,000 in lodging taxes have been collected and distributed by Lincoln County to Star Valley Ranch. The T&T Board is charged with developing a plan and budget for execution of these funds. Future T&T Board meetings are expected to occur quarterly.
Wednesday, February 21st I participated in a meeting with the Lincoln County Commissioners and the Wyoming Association of Rural Water Users (WARWS) held at the Etna Community Center. Representatives from TSVR a well as other towns and water districts in Star Valley were also in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss water quality in Star Valley and specifically ways to avoid future water quality issues as well as how to determine if a problem is occurring or worsening with regard to wastewater. The Commissioners and WARWS provided copies of a memorandum summarizing a study conducted by CRS Engineers (out of Salt Lake City) titled “Star Valley, Wyoming Sewer Evaluation”. This memo calls out Star Valley Ranch in particular as being a “high priority” based on calculated wastewater flows. Note the word “calculated”, as my understanding from the memo is that these wastewater flows were determined using ArcGIS and Google Earth aerial imagery followed by consultation with “representatives from public works departments to confirm ‘our’ assumptions”. [The assumptions used by CRS were not included in the memo and based on other supporting documents received after the meeting, I could not ascertain that any actual test data informed the wastewater flow computations.] Here’s what the study recommendation memo ultimately had to say for Star Valley Ranch:
“Star Valley Ranch currently possesses no centralized wastewater treatment. The entire area relies solely on personal septic tanks, some of which are in excess of 70 years old. As the septic tanks in the area continue to age the likelihood of a failure resulting in the release of wastewater to the environment increases. With the second highest generated flow of wastewater within the Star Valley, and the highest directly to groundwater, it is crucial to develop a centralized treatment system in this area.”
After reading this, I would imagine a good number of the septic systems in Star Valley Ranch are old, but are there that many in excess of 70 years? Also, the statement “second highest generated flow of wastewater”, per my understanding is purely based on the calculations made by CRS. As you can see I have lots of questions since attending this meeting. With that in mind, I’ll follow-up and keep everyone posted on anything else I discover.
Btw, if anyone would like a copy of the CRS “Star Valley, Wyoming Sewer Evaluation” memo, drop me an email and I’ll happily send it to you.
Thursday, February 22nd the Town Council held a second budget work session at Town Hall. Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson attended the first part of the meeting to initiate discussions on a new contract with the Town which will become part of the 2024-2025 TSVR budget. The remainder of the work session was focused on reviewing, winnowing, and prioritizing budget goals developed during last week’s meeting. More information will be forthcoming as the TSVR 2024-2025 budget development process progresses.
Other news items of interest for the week are as follows:
Despite the hard work of the TSVR Trail Crew to keep our local trails open for the enjoyment of snowshoers and cross-country skiers, earlier in the week the Cedar Creek Trail was torn up quite badly by what must have been a large parade of snowmobiles.
Snowmobile damage to the snowshoe path on Cedar Creek Trail. Alas, Fox Run Park, also had snowmobile activity this week. Operating any motorized vehicle in Fox Run Park is a violation of town ordinance § 91.04(A). Folks, if you see snowmobiles in the winter (or ATVs or dirt bikes in the warmer weather) in Fox Run Park, please contact the TSVR Special Municipal Officer as soon as possible! His number and email are at the bottom of the TSVR website homepage. Thank you!
A photo from the snowmobile incursion at Fox Run Park this week. The operator of this snowmobile blatantly ignored the “No Motorized Vehicles” sign that is clearly visible in this picture.
Another piece of information I wanted to share (although not a direct Star Valley Ranch news item) is regarding the death of a dog caught in a conibear trap along Swift Creek Road (near Afton) earlier this month. I only learned of this tragic event a few days ago after reading a Cowboy State Daily news story; to date, I have not seen any coverage on this incident in the Star Valley Independent. Sadly the family pet, “Jester” was caught and killed in an illegally placed trap. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has issued a citation to the trapper and an investigation is ongoing. In the meantime, did you know that trapping can occur in Wyoming almost anywhere on public lands, except national parks, the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, and a few other areas defined in WGFD regulations? Here are a some other pieces of information you should know if you take your unleashed dog with you when recreating on public lands:
Trappers can place traps anywhere, including on hiking trails. They cannot, however, place them within 30 feet of an officially designated road.
Common areas where furbearer trap sets can be encountered include: near creek beds, draws, fence lines, canal banks, prominent rocky hillsides, and private land adjacent to public land.
Furbearer trapping season generally occurs from October to March, however, wildlife classified as predators can be trapped all year.
Current regulations do not require signs to be posted on or near trap lines. With this in mind, as a dog-owner, your best alternative is to educate yourself on where to expect traps and what to do in the unfortunate circumstance that your family pet is caught in a trap. See the WGFD resources at this link as a starting point.
While trapping in Wyoming is intended to catch furbearers such as this beautiful red fox (that apparently got away), unleashed pets are also at risk of being caught, injured, or killed.
A quick update on the current Pole Barn Poll standings as of today: 86% against, 11% for, and 2% uncommitted either way.
Click here to access the poll and add your opinion if you haven’t already.
Finally, I wanted to let folks know about an art show being sponsored by the Friends of the Bridger-Teton and the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) Pinedale Ranger District called “National Forest Creations”. Eighteen regional artists have created artworks using wood cookies from a 138-year-old downed tree. The works are on display at the Sublette County Library, however, you can also see them as part of an online silent auction which starts tomorrow! Use this Mobile Bidding and Donation Link if you’d like to try and take one of these beauties home! Bidding will go live at 8am Monday, February 26th and will end Thursday, February 29th at 7:30pm.
Here's a look at two artist creations from the show. Image on left: #14 “Meet Me by the River” by Devin Pierce, Pinedale, WY; Image right: #9 “Great Gray Owl” by Lindsey Paige, Bedford, WY.
Pretty quiet next week at the Ranch—here’s the lone calendar item I’m aware of:
Wednesday, February 28th, the TSVR Planning and Zoning Board will hold their second meeting of the month at Town Hall.
Final thoughts—another longer than usual SVR News Roundup this week; I appreciate your indulgence in getting all the way to the end!
Thank you very much for reading! Your support and feedback is always appreciated! Please invite your neighbors, family, and friends to check out Close to Home 307. Email me anytime at: close2home307@gmail.com