Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) Information

GYA Working Group

The Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) is a global asset that is treasured for its natural beauty, geological wonders, biological diversity and plethora of recreational opportunities. People from all over the world visit the GYA to enjoy its natural wonders and resources. The GYA is the headwaters for three major river systems that are of immeasurable economic importance to the United States.

The unique ecological and economic values of the GYA are now being threatened by aquatic invaders, or aquatic nuisance species (ANS). These non-native mussels, plants, snails, and other introduced species have the potential to severely impact the regions ecosystem, tourism, agriculture, hydropower, and businesses.

To better combat these invaders, Federal, state, and county agencies have partnered with organizations, outfitters, and businesses to protect the GYA from ANS, by creating a working group of the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee. The value of this unified approach includes the pooling of resources, knowledge, and energy as well as avoiding the duplication of efforts. This approach moves government entities to a proactive approach that empowers individuals and harnesses the power of the private sector to change behaviors. This collaborative group has prepared a strategic plan and is developing an accompanying implementation plan. Their goals are to:

  • Prevent new introductions of ANS into waters of the GYA
  • Limit the spread of established populations of ANS into uninfested waters.
  • Abate harmful ecological, socioeconomic and public health and safety impacts resulting from infestations of ANS within the GYA.
  • Provide a cooperative environment that encourages coordinated activities among all interested parties throughout the GYA.

Key action items include survey, research, outreach/education, and control. Surveying for ANS in and around the GYA will provide essential insight into existing conditions. This element of the implementation plan is currently under-funded and the group is seeking funds to accomplish it with a GYA-wide approach.

ANS pose an immediate threat to the waters of the GYA. All those involved recognize that everyone who lives, works, or plays in the GYA needs to work cooperatively to prevent the spread of ANS.

For more information on how to get involved to protect the GYA from ANS, please contact the Chair of the GYA-Wide ANS Working Group, James Capurso (Caribou-Targhee National Forest) at 208-557-5780.

 

Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) Trainings and Events

  • May 25, 2010 -- Southeast Idaho AIS Education Day

    Southeast Idaho AIS Education Day at Conant boat ramp adjacent to the South Fork Lodge.  A day of education and outreach for outfitters, guides and all anglers to learn more about aquatic invasives in the region.

 

Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) Press Releases

  

Grand Teton National Park - Self Certification Program

Grand Teton National Park will be requiring all boaters to comply with a new self-certification , Aquatic Nuisance Species Prevention Program starting in 2009, before you may launch a boat into park waters.

For most boaters, this will be a simple process.

Before you launch you will have to:

  • Look at simple questions on a flow chart
  • If  your answers to the questions tell you  to clean and decontaminate your boat before launching in pard waters, you must do so!
  • If/when your boat is ready to launch you must fill out a self-certification statement and display the certificate on your dashboard while your vehicle is parked in GTNP.   
  • You can use the same certificate all year long if you ensure that your boat is cleaned to the requirements in the flow chart after every use.

Check with a GTNP park ranger or call 307-739-3666 if you have any questions.

 

2009 Aquatic Invasive Survey Report

This Report shows the results from an aquatic invasive survey from 2009. Concerned about the spread of aquatic invasive species, Teton County Weed and Pest District and Teton Conservation District, in collaboration with the BTNF and SRF, funded Portland State University's Center for Lakes and Reservoirs to conduct early detection surveys for invasive plants and animals in high priority lakes and rivers in Teton County.

Download the Official 2009 AIS Final Reprot from Portland State University