Introduction to the Corridor Regional Setting The Snake River Corridor is located in the mountainous terrain of northwestern Wyoming to the south of Yellowstone National Park. The Snake River is a popular recreational destination within driving distance of several larger regional cities, including Idaho Falls, Idaho and the Salt Lake City/Ogden area of northern Utah. Jackson Hole, which contains a large portion of the river corridor, is also served by major airlines. The Corridor Agreement Seventeen agencies and organizations have signed a cooperative agreement to work together toward project goals. This document contains the complete text of the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed into effect on October 13, 1994. The Corridor The focus of the Snake River Corridor Project is the 69-mile reach of the Snake from Jackson Lake Dam to Palisades Reservoir at the Wyoming-Idaho border. The river corridor features the world-class scenery of Jackson Hole and the rugged Teton Range, significant wildlife habitat and sport fisheries, private homes, roads, diverse recreation opportunities, and a complex pattern of use, ownership, and management. As interest in the Corridor has increased in the past several years, bringing higher use levels and area development, the impacts on the river have also become more severe, and more apparent. The Corridor Project is one mechanism of increasing coordination and communication between the land managers and planners in the area in an effort to bring such impacts under control. Geography Investigate the physical, natural, and human environment surrounding the river and its development through the years. Issues Discover the key management and planning concerns raised through early public involvement in the Corridor Project. An overview of the Corridor Project... The Snake River Corridor Project was initiated with the hope of providing a forum for coordinating numerous agency management efforts affecting the Snake River in Wyoming. All participating groups in the Project share the desire to help conserve the Corridor's natural resources while balancing demands for recreational and community needs. The project also provides an opportunity for citizens and community organizations to participate in river planning and management decisions. Corridor Project Goals: To preserve and enhance the natural character of the Snake River Corridor. To provide improved recreational opportunities within the Corridor, consistent with minimum impact upon river resources, adjacent private lands, and quality of experience. To create a system of cooperative planning and river management between local, state, federal agencies, and community organizations. Corridor Project History: A grant recieved from the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program provided Teton County with professional help in coordinating planning for the Snake River Corridor. Preliminary roundtables meetings of project participants were held through the fall and winter of 1993-1994. Public workshops were held in June 1994 in Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah and again in November 1994 in Jackson. Current Corridor Project activity includes management coordination meetings among the Corridor participants and development of spatial data and information sharing technology and infrustructure to further interaction between management groups and with the public. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ARTICLE 1. Background and objectives Whereas, Teton County; Lincoln County; Grand Teton National Park; the Bridger Teton National Forest; the Bureau of Land Management, the US Army Corps of Engineers; the Wyoming Game and Fish Department; the Bureau of Reclamation; the Teton County Natural Resource District; the Wyoming Department of Transportation; Lower Valley Power and Light; the University of Wyoming; the Jackson Hole Alliance for Responsible Planning; and Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited each have an interest in management of the natural, recreational, cultural, transportation, infrastructure, and other needs of the Snake River Corridor (between the outlet of Jackson Lake Dam and the inlet to Palisades Reservoir); and Whereas, the Department of the Interior is directed, through Section 8 of the National Trails Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-543, as amended), Section 8 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-542, as amended) and the Outdoor Recreation Coordination Act of 1963 (P.L. 88-29) to provide encouragement and assistance to States and local agencies and private interests for river conservation and management; and Whereas Teton County has requested assistance in coordinating management of the Snake River Corridor from the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior; Therefore, the National Park Service agrees to assist Teton County; Lincoln County; Grand Teton National Park; the Bridger Teton National Forest; the Bureau of Land Management, the US Army Corps of Engineers; the Wyoming Game and Fish Department; the Bureau of Reclamation; the Teton County Natural Resource District; the Wyoming Department of Transportation; Lower Valley Power and Light; the University of Wyoming; the Jackson Hole Alliance for Responsible Planning; and Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited in the development of enhanced management coordination and communication in accordance with the following terms and conditions. ARTICLE 2. Statement of Work The goal of this Memorandum of Understanding will be to develop multi-objective management coordination for the Snake River Corridor Project (Project) from the outlet of Jackson Lake Dam to the inlet to Palisades Reservoir. The Project will reflect the interests and concerns of and be agreeable to the agencies, organizations and individuals who have a strong interest in the Snake River Corridor Project area. To this end, the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program; Teton County; Lincoln County; Grand Teton National Park; the Bridger Teton National Forest; the Bureau of Land Management, the US Army Corps of Engineers; the Wyoming Game and Fish Department; the Bureau of Reclamation; the Teton County Natural Resource District; the Wyoming Department of Transportation; Lower Valley Power and Light; the University of Wyoming; the Jackson Hole Alliance for Responsible Planning; and Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited will work with each other and with other public and private interests. The National Park Service (Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program) agrees to: 1. Assist with the development of an overall planning and public involvement strategy. 2. Help identify issues and concerns from the general public and interested parties to be considered in the Snake River Corridor project. 3. Provide direction in the identification of significant resources and their values. 4. Assist in developing conservation and recreation strategies. 5. Assist in developing and documenting management alternatives. 6. Assist in the writing and publication of management recommendations and coordination guidelines. Teton County agrees to: 1. Offer meeting space at no charge for public hearings and presentations. 2. Hold hearings at the planning board and commissioner level when and if such hearings are necessary and appropriate. 3. Act as sponsoring agency for the purpose of the project. 4. Assist with the project through staff time and available resources through the County Planning Office, County Engineer, and Pathways Task Force. 5. Encourage the active participation of members of the Board of County Commissioners in the project. 6. Consider additional commitment of resources for the project or sections of the project, as approved by the Board of Commissioners Lincoln County agrees to: 1. Offer space at no charge for public hearings and presentations. 2. Hold hearings at the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of County Commissioner level when and if necessary. 3. Assist with the Project through staff time and available resources through the County Planning and Community Development Office and County Engineer/Surveyor. 4. Encourage the active participation of members of the Board of County Commissions in the project. 5. Consider additional commitment of resources for the project or sections of the project, as approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Grand Teton National Park agrees to: 1. Provide appropriate support for the project consistent with the mission and policies of the park. 2. Assist with the project through staff time and resources available through the park. 3. Make any appropriate park documents and data available to the project upon request. 4. Assist in the definition of issues and concerns associated with this multi- objective planning process. The Bridger Teton National Forest agrees to: 1. Support the cooperative project through technical services, maps, and photos. 2. Provide input from personnel where appropriate skills are needed on an intermittent basis. 3. Provide input, data, and interpretation of existing Forest planning documents and site specific management plans relating to management of National Forest lands. The Bureau of Land Management agrees to provide technical expertise necessary to accomplish: 1. Assist with the development of an overall planning and public involvement strategy. 2. Help identify issues and concerns from the general public and interested parties to be considered in the Snake River Corridor project. 3. Provide direction in the identification of significant resources and their values. 4. Assist in the development of and publication of management recommendations and coordination guidelines for the Snake River consistent with Bureau Policy. 5. Assist in determining what technical and mapping services will be needed. NOTE: Any direct contributions will be accomplished by separate agreement between any or all Project participants. The US Army Corps of Engineers agrees to: 1. Provide support for the Snake River Corridor Project consistent with the mission and policies of the Corps funded through existing Operation & Maintenance (O&M), General Investigations (GI), and Continuing Authorities. 2. Provide information and coordination on Corps flood control maintenance activities and environmental planning, congressional authorities and appropriations. 3. Provide existing Corps data on physical and biological resources such as technical studies, maps, and photographs for the Snake River. 4. Provide cooperation and assistance in developing a sustainable, holistic ecosystem approach to problem solving which considers the rights and desires of private property owners, the general public, special interest groups, and State and Federal agencies. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department agrees to: 1. Provide appropriate support for the project consistent with the mission and policies of the Commission. 2. Provide biological assessments and technical expertise in matters related to the conservation of fish and wildlife populations and habitat. 3. Assist the project to the extent of available funding through staff time and as authorized by the commission. 4. Make appropriate Department documents and date available to the project upon request. 5. Assist in developing conservation strategies and recreation plans. 6. Neither the State of Wyoming nor the Game and Fish Commission waives its sovereign immunity and fully retains all defenses and immunities as provided by law. Nothing in this agreement shall be construed as obligating the expenditures of either party's funds in excess of appropriations authorized by law or as authorized by the Commission. The Bureau of Reclamation agrees to: 1. Provide participation and personnel support for the Snake River Corridor Project consistent with the mission and policies of Reclamation. 2. Provide maps of Reclamation acquired or withdrawn lands within the area of concern. 3. Provide historical stream flow data and analysis. 4. Provide technical requirements for water operations for the current year. The Teton County Natural Resource District agrees to: 1. Provide Personnel and office for overall technical coordination. 2. Provide informational resources available to the district towards the formation of the Corridor project. 3. Provide funding and technical assistance for public facilities or natural resource management projects identified by the planning group that are found consistent with the mission statement and policies of TCNRD and as approved by the Board of Supervisors of TCNRD. Wyoming Department of Transportation agrees to: 1. Provide appropriate support for the project consistent with the mission and policies of WYDOT and the regional and national significance of transportation arterials within the project corridor. 2. Make any appropriate travel/traffic and facility use date available to the project upon request. 3. Assist the project through staff time and resources available to the project to coordinate project transportation and infrastructure related issues. 4. Provide input, data and interpretation of existing WYDOT planning and programming documents relating to state, regional and national transportation arterials within the project corridor. Lower Valley Power and Light agrees to: 1. Provide meeting accommodations as may be needed from time to time. 2. Assist the project with staff expertise on committees. 3. Consider additional commitment of resources for the project or sections of the project, as approved by the LVPL Board of Directors. The University of Wyoming —Wyoming Water Resources Center and the UW-NPS Research Center agrees to: 1. Assist with the development of planning strategies. 2. Help to identify resources and funding opportunities. 3. Encourage active participation by researchers working through the UW-NPS Research Center. 4. Make available the research laboratory and library to the project. 5. Offer meeting space for public hearings and presentations at the AMK Ranch. 6. Provide interactive access to the Water Resources Data System (WRDS) for all cooperating parties on a par with that currently available to Wyoming state agencies. 7. Provide advice and data base management/storage capability through the Water Resources Center Geographic Information System (GIS) laboratory for ARC/INFO programming and modeling expertise related to MOU goals. 8. Assist in development of criteria and guidelines for electronic media data and GIS coverage transfer among parties to the MOU. The Jackson Hole Alliance for Responsible Planning agrees to: 1. Offer meeting space an no charge for public meeting and presentations. 2. Provide staff and technical support for the project that are consistent with the mission statement, goals and policies of the JHARP. 3. Assist in the identification of significant resources and their values. 4. Assist in the definition of issues and concerns associated with the management of the Snake River Corridor project. 5. Assist in the public education effort of the project. 6. Assist in generating public support for the project. Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited agrees to: 1. Provide technical support for the project that is consistent with the mission statement, goals and policies of JHTU (conserve, protect, and restore Jackson Hole area cold water fisheries and their watersheds). 2. Assist in the identification of significant resources and their values. 3. Assist in the definition of issues and concerns associated with the management of the Snake River Corridor Project. 4. Assist in the public education effort of the project. 5. Assist in generating public support for the project. ADDENDUM MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Snake River Corridor Project Additional Participation in MOU of October 13, 1994 Wyoming State Engineer's Office agrees to: 1. Provide water rights and water administration information pertinent to the Snake River basin. 2. Assist the project to the extent of available staff time. 3. Assist in the preparation of any basin wide documents with an emphasis on reviewing sections pertaining to water rights, water administration, and issues relevant to the Snake River Compact. 4. Provide updates regarding the West Bank water supply study. 5. Assist in incorporating water use and water supply issues into any basin-wide planning or river management documents. ADDENDUM MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Snake River Corridor Project Additional Participation in MOU of October 13, 1994 The Teton County Natural Resource District agrees to: 1. Provide personnel and office for overall technical coordination. 2. Provide informational resources available to the District towards the formation of the Corridor project. 3. Provide funding and technical assistance for public facilities or natural resource management projects identified by the planning group that are found consistent with the mission statement and policies of TCNRD and as approved by the Board of Supervisors of TCNRD. ADDENDUM MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Snake River Corridor Project Additional Participation in MOU of October 13, 1994 The Wyoming District, Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey agrees to: 1. Provide hydrologic information and technical evaluation needed for developing multi-objective management coordination for the Snake River Corridor Project as consistent with the mission and policy of the U.S. Geological Survey. 2. Provide 50% matching funds for water resources projects in which the U.S. Geological Survey participates. 3. Provide project updates regarding ongoing U.S. geological Survey projects within the Snake River Corridor Project area.