Jay Pistono, Snake River Fund River Ambassador

The first problem Snake River Ambassador Jay Pistono had was that he couldn’t keep his cell phone out of the river.

Pistono’s cell phone has fallen out of his pocket and into the river on several occasions this summer. Other times, he’s waded thigh deep into the river unloading boats, not realizing his phone was in his pocket.

“I’m notorious for it,” Pistono said.
“I can’t believe how many times I’ve cooked it.”

Nearing the end of his first summer as the Snake River Ambassador, Pistono has finally learned how to keep his cell phone dry. He’s also learned a lot about camaraderie, and the lack thereof, of river users on the stretch of the Snake River he patrols -Wilson to South Park.

Pistono, known for his work the last four winters as the Teton Pass Ambassador, was hired in May by the Snake River Fund to patrol the Snake. Pistono spends two to three days a week managing traffic, de fusing conflicts and educating users accessing the river.

His presence there is invaluable, especially given the volume of traffic and the conflicts that ensue. An aver age of 25 boats per day are launched at Wilson. One day, he counted 37 boats putting in. And most of this action occurs in a short window: from 8 to 10 a.m.

“That blows my mind,” he said. “Especially when you consider that a commercial boat might have 10 people per boat.”

As one can imagine, all that con gestion, all that traffic, is a recipe for conflict.

“I’ve dealt with plenty of attitude this year,” he said. “It’s mostly people being impatient. If you have to wait 10 to 15 minutes [to unload a boat], it doesn’t have to ruin your day.”

Many river users have had their experiences ruined by others, Pis tono says. Some drive their boat down to the river, then cause a log jam by hanging out, going to the bathroom or smoking cigarettes. That’s when Pistono steps in to edu cate and help. “When I saw problems happen ing, instead of letting it turn into a junk show and not having the boat ready, I’d help out and point out a few things,” he said. “Sometimes people’s tendency is, when they see something happening, they yell out something like, `Hey rookie, get out of the way.’ That doesn’t help.”

He’s seen others who are so impa tient they try to thread the needle while trying to launch boats. Twice this summer, Pistono has seen some one back into another boat. He said some boaters arrive at the Wilson put-in and feel like they are entitled to drive down and unload their boat, even though others are waiting to do so.

It’s that kind of traffic that has some people wondering if too many people are using that stretch of the Snake.

When Pistono accepted this position, he immediately went to talk to commercial river guides. Most told him there were too many people on the river, and the crowds were ruin ing the river experience.

Pistono, however, feels otherwise.

“A lot of people think it’s a junk show because there’s too many people,” he said. “I disagree. I think things flow well as long as you don’t get the attitude.”

The attitude is on the river, too.
Pistono said fishermen frequently pull right up on others already fishing the banks. Sometimes, a game of leapfrog ensues.

“Fishermen have to lose that competitive attitude,” he said. “If they row in front of another boat, they should just go to other side of river.
There’s a lot of jockeying going on.
That’s gotta stop.”

If river users can remain respectful of one another, then the Snake can be enjoyed by all.

“With the amount of use in that river, if we’re respectful of one another’s space, we can support it,” Pistono said.
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Brandon Zimmerman is the sports editor at the News&Guide. His column details offbeat sports stories and runs weekly throughout the summer.

We are thrilled that the community choose to support these critical river recreation sites and these essential land transfers.  The Snake River Fund looks forward to the important work that is before us on these projects!

Thank you to everyone who supported this important proposition and to all the hard work put in by board members and volunteers.

Congratulations!

Guide continues tradition with new book

___________________________
Who: Boots Allen What: Book signing for “Snake River Fly Fishing: Through the Eyes of an Angler”
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Snake River Angler, near the intersection of Highway 22 and Broadway
How much: $24.95 for 138-page book
____________________________

If there is anyone who has Snake River fishing in his genetic code, it is Boots Allen.

The third-generation Jackson Hole fishing guide descends from his grandfather, Boots Allen, one of the original angling outfitters in the valley, and his father, Joe Allen, a renowned guide and creator of the famous Double Humpy fly pattern.

Allen, who guides 100 days per year on area rivers, this summer released “Snake River Fly Fishing: Through the Eyes of an Angler.” The book explains the upper Snake and South Fork drainages and offers insight into subjects such as geology, hydrology, flies, history and some of the figures important to Wyoming and Idaho angling.

By working as an author, the 39-year-old, who holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of  Texas, furthers the Allen tradition of helping people enjoy the Snake River.

“The book is a way to continue my family’s role and the fly-fishing heritage, but I’m definitely doing it my own way,” he said.

Allen will sign copies of the 138page book on Friday at Snake River Angler in town. During the two-hour event, he also will tie some of the flies described in the book. Refreshments and food will be served.

The book is divided into four sections. Part I describes the upper Snake River, which starts in Yellowstone National Park and runs through the Snake River Canyon. Part II looks at the South Fork, a river that effectively begins at Palisades dam.

While writing the book, Allen learned the most about what distinguishes the upper Snake and the South Fork.

“I always had a solid grasp of the difference between the two rivers,” Allen said. “In researching the book, I looked at the different physical characteristics, the gradients of the rivers and hydrology, and the differences were really hammered home.”

Part III presents photos and descriptions of important Snake River flies, and Part IV offers a look at some of the colorful legends of area fly-fishing.

Along with guiding locally, Allen writes for outdoors magazines and has guided in Tierra Del Fuego in Argentina for sea-run browns. He has fished in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Panama, Costa Rica and British Columbia.

His experiences have led him to present a book that offers a complete picture of the river his family has known intimately since early in the last century.

“If someone wants a really clear view of the Snake River and the South Fork in terms of fly-fishing, then this is the book for you,” Allen said.
If there is anyone who has Snake River fishing in his genetic code, it is Boots Allen.

Reproduced with permission from jhunderground.org

River rangers working with rafting guides saved the life of a 16-year-old who suffered a heart attack Friday in the Snake River Canyon.

The teen was part of a Boy Scout rafting trip from Rexburg, Idaho, according to Dave Cernicek, Bridger-Teton National Forest river manager. The group stopped at a jumping rock above Cottonwood Rapid when the boy complained of chest pain and collapsed. He had no pulse or breathing, and trip leaders began CPR while transporting him to the Sheep Gulch takeout about 1.5 miles downstream.

When the group reached the boat ramp, river rangers responded, assisted by guides from Dave Hansen Whitewater. The rangers used an automatic external defibrillator, or AED, to shock the teen’s heart and revived him. An ambulance arrived quickly from Alpine and transported the teen to the hospital.

The AED was paid for by the Snake River Fund, a nonprofit group dedicated to stewardship of the river. Since 2001, the fund, led by board member Ron Novak, has paid for AEDs to be installed at the West Table Creek and Sheep Gulch boat ramps (the main canyon access points), as well as below Three Oar Deal and Lunch Counter Rapid, two of the biggest hazards.

Too bad there are none at Moose, where elderly passengers frequently take float trips in Grand Teton National Park.

The AEDs were purchased at Cernicek’s suggestion, which is why he was named River Manager of the Year this spring by the River Management Society.

Youth saved on river

Bridger-Teton National Forest rescue workers saved a Rexburg, Idaho, boy in the Snake River Canyon on Friday after the 16-year-old suffered an apparent heart attack while on a rafting trip.

A group of Boy Scouts from Idaho had pulled off to the south side of the Snake River and was playing in the water near the Jump Rock above the Cottonwood Rapid about 3 p.m. when one Scout told his companions he didn’t feel well, said Bridger-Teton Jackson District river manager David Cernicek.
Bridger-Teton officials did not release the boy’s name.

“This young man said, `There is something wrong with my heart. It doesn’t feel right,’ ” Cernicek said.
“Then he went into a seizure and lost consciousness. He quit breathing and lost circulation.”

The group of Scouts began cardio pulmonary resuscitation, got the victim on a raft and floated him down to the Sheep Gulch boat ramp.

At the ramp, U.S. Forest Service river rangers and commercial river guides assisted with CPR. River rangers then used an automated external defibrillator, a device that uses electric shocks to re-establish a regular heartbeat. The boy was likely in cardiac arrest for less than 20 minutes, Cernicek said.

“The defibrillator found a shockable rhythm and applied shocks at least three times,” Cernicek said. “My un derstanding is that the boy regained breathing and circulation.”

An ambulance from Alpine then took the boy to Star Valley Medical Center, and he was later transported to Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City. Doctors say the boy is alive with no apparent brain damage and will receive surgery to repair a genetic heart problem. “One of the things that the hospitals and the doctors were attributing to the success of this is that there was cold water that slows down some of these [physiological] processes,” Cernicek said.

“[The Boy Scouts] made a really good choice in making a break for the ramp because of [the automated external defibrillator that] we had available there,” he said. “It was one of those things where everything came together. All the right people were at all the right places.” The Snake River Fund provided two automated external defibrillators to Bridger-Teton river rangers in 2001. At the time, the devices cost roughly $3,600. This year, the Snake River Fund and an anonymous donor provided river rangers with two more of the devices. One of the devices stays at a cache at Lunch Counter, and the other stays at Three Oar Deal during the high-water season.

“It definitely [paid off] for this young man,” said Cernicek, adding that one of the defibrillators was used unsuccessfully on a man near Wolf Creek last year. “Too much time had gone by.”

“We’re really excited about what the river ranger crew was able to pull off,” Cernicek said. “We’re really proud of anybody who made this come together.”

Jackson District Ranger Dale Deiter called the rescue an “amazing job.”

“We expect a great deal from our people,” he said in a statement. “Our 2010 crew has gone above and beyond what we would call heroic.”

In addition to the many volunteers that helped make this evening happen, a big thank you to Dornan’s and all the outfitters that donated their boats, buses, guides and time!

As Mick, the instructor noted, we need to change the river culture in Jackson to one that is safety oriented!  Look to do just that next year when we hold another course.

Trees creating a "strainer" in high water

The Bureau of Reclamation has put out an advisory starting immediately through the next 48+ hours due to unexpected large releases out of Jackson Lake Dam.

They reportedly, might be forced to pass inflows!

Be safe and aware!!!

View  More on this News Report:

• Game On – Jhunderground.com
• Warning: Snake flows to rise rapidly – Jhunderground.com

Recreationalists at Wilson boat ramp access

The Snake River Fund is pleased to announce the hiring of Jay Pistono as river ambassador for the Wilson-to-South Park stretch of the Snake.

Pistono is a longtime mountain and fishing guide who just completed his fourth winter of serving as ambassador on Teton Pass, a cooperative program between the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Friends of Pathways.

Just as he has done on the pass, Pistono will help manage traffic, defuse conflicts and educate users accessing the river at Wilson and South Park. He will spend three or four days per week at the boat ramps and floating the 13-mile stretch from June to September.

“Jay’s low-key approach and knowledge of the river and the people using it make him the ideal choice for this position,” says Marley Vaughn, executive director of the Snake River Fund. “We expect him to help keep commercial and private boaters from crowding each other, and also inform the public about issues such as invasive species and river etiquette.”

The Wilson Bridge recreation area is the most heavily used river access point in Teton County, and use of the river between Wilson and South Park has increased 200 percent in the last 10 years, according to traffic counts by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Unlike most of the Snake in Wyoming, Wilson to South Park is largely unregulated, falling outside the jurisdiction of the national forest and park services. The Snake River Fund has a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to manage the Wilson access point and has spent nearly $100,000 since 2004 for maintenance, bathrooms, trash pickup and recycling. Teton County is slated to take ownership of BLM parcels at Wilson and South Park and has proposed $1 million in specific-purpose tax funding to improve facilities at both sites.

The Snake River Fund is vying for an $11,000 grant from 1 Percent from the Tetons to fund the ambassador position. Regardless of how the grant process works out, the Fund decided that the post was too important to put off any longer. “The Snake can’t wait,” Vaughn says.

Among the topics Pistono likely will bring up with river users is a new Game and Fish program aimed at preventing the spread of aquatic invasives like zebra mussels into Wyoming waterways. All boaters are required to purchase decals for as little as $5.

The Snake River Fund is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting stewardship of and recreational access to the Snake River watershed in Wyoming, with an emphasis on partnerships, education and public outreach.

— END —

David Cernicek

Wyoming Forest Service Staff Named River Manager of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Nan Stinson (307) 276-5826
DATE: May 18, 2010

Jackson, Wyo. –David Cernicek, of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jackson Ranger District, was recognized with the prestigious River Manager of the Year award from the River Management Society (RMS). Cernicek is the Natural Resource Specialist and River Manager for the Bridger-Teton’s popular Snake River Canyon, and a myriad of Wild and Scenic eligible and designated streams and rivers across the Forest.

Cernicek joins only two other Forest Service employees who have enjoyed this honor over the past decade. The highly coveted award is from the only professional society for river managers. Each year, one RMS member is recognized for making a significant contribution to the art and science of river management.

“David’s work on the Bridger-Teton has been remarkable over the last 11 years,” said Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton. “The outstanding fishing, camping, and floating along the pristine waters of the Bridger-Teton are a direct result of his tireless effort and expertise in managing such important waterways”, she said.

The Snake River, that follows Highway 89 near Jackson, Wyoming is the busiest commercially run river in the United States, according to Paddler Magazine. The Snake River is one of the few rivers managed by the United States Forest Service (USFS) with this much use but no user fee. In 1998, the Snake River Fund was created, originally to keep the Snake ‘fee free.’ This one-of-a-kind program is a completely voluntary, donation-based, grass-roots citizen organization that works in partnership with the Forest Service to protect and care for the Snake River Corridor. Cernicek was one of the original members of this group and was instrumental in completing a mission statement for the Fund. Cernicek is currently the liaison officer between the Fund and the Bridger-Teton. “David Cernicek is passionate about river management which is evidenced by his involvement in many aspects of river management for the Snake River watershed”, said Jackson District Ranger Dale Deiter. “His continued involvement and perseverance with many groups and partners goes far beyond his day to day work assignments,” he said.

Determined to share his love of rivers and river-based recreation, Cernicek has brought international students to the Bridger-Teton for the last five years as volunteers specifically to participate in projects along the Snake River. He has taught them about river conservation and given them the opportunity to experience a very busy and active recreation and conservation river program.

Additionally, Cernicek has served on the board of directors for the American Whitewater Association for the last 5 years. This volunteer organization works to conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources and enhance public opportunities to enjoy them safely.

Cernicek spearheaded the Kids in the Woods partnership project on the Snake River beginning in 2008. He brought together more than thirty partners to provide over twenty-five outdoor learning programs to the Kids in the Jackson area. The programs, offered in both English and Spanish, offered outdoor recreation skill-building, aquatic and noxious invasive species control and training, resource enhancement projects and other outdoor recreation activities. Cernicek’s ability to work with, and connect partners, was one of the primary reasons for the success of the program.

In addition to managing the rivers of the Bridger-Teton for the last 10 years, Cernicek has been working with the Headwaters Institute since 1997 and since 2007, has been the RMS advisor to Headwaters Institute. He was instrumental in the creation of the Summit on the Snake in Wyoming, a river education program to provide knowledge to river and fishing guides who have the power to influence and instill a sense of appreciation in the health of the river systems to their clients. David believes that “a well-informed river guide is a crucial tool for teaching people the value of a healthy river and why it needs to be protected.” He continues to be involved in the planning and implementation of the Summit on the Snake.

Cernicek also coordinates the partnership effort with the Jackson Hole Weed Management Association (JHWMA) in Teton County for the portion of the Snake River Project that crosses the Bridger-Teton. The JHWMA has developed the Snake River Project not only to eradicate noxious weeds in the Snake River Canyon but also to raise awareness with the public and encourage them to take action.

Cernicek was one of the original team members of the planning team for the first River Ranger Rendezvous held on the Snake River in Jackson in 2004. Cernicek also has been coordinating with the Teton Division of the Aquatic Species Task Force to educate and prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The Bridger-Teton National Forest is in its second year of this new Aquatic Hitchhiker program to expand prevention and education to protect the waters of the Snake River. With Cernicek’s leadership, this has become a top priority for the forest and the river program.

Cernicek has been a volunteer fire fighter for the last 10 years with Jackson Hole Fire and Emergency Medical Service. Due to the proximity of the Snake River to Jackson as well as its popularity, river rescue is a common occurrence on the Snake River. Cernicek coordinates river rescue training for the fire department and other interagency rescue personnel each season.

Cernicek has been working as the Wild and Scenic Coordinator for public involvement on the Bridger-Teton. In March of 2008, the Bridger-Teton became stewards of 387.7 miles of designated Wild and Scenic rivers. As part of the team working on the Comprehensive River Management Plan for the newly designated segments of the Snake River, Cernicek has shared his network of partners and interested river users to develop an all encompassing body of land owners and river enthusiasts to aid in management of these special sections.

“I’m happy that David’s passion for rivers, his ability to bring diverse interests together for one common goal, his enthusiasm and his sense of humor has garnered him this award,” Deiter said.

The award was presented to Cernicek at the River Management Society Interagency Meeting in Portland, Oregon on Tuesday, May 18, 2010.

The River Management Society (RMS) is a national nonprofit professional organization that supports professionals who study, protect, and manage North America’s rivers. Focused on holistic river management, RMS’s membership includes federal, state, and local agency employees, educators, researchers, consultants, and organizations and citizens from the private sector.

“We are fortunate to have such a valuable resource on the Bridger-Teton as we have with David”, remarked Hamilton. “With his talents, enthusiasm and leadership, I am confident there is more in store for all of us that cherish the rivers of the Bridger-Teton. David will make sure of that.”

The Snake River Fund invites friends and supporters to come out for the Fly Fishing Film Tour when it stops Friday at Center for the Arts.

The fourth annual tour is the brainchild of Tom Bie, editor of The Drake magazine and a former Jackson Hole guide and outdoors writer. Seven first-run films will be screened, capturing angling action from steelhead in British Columbia to snook and tarpon in the Everglades and classic trout fishing on the Henry’s Fork.

Showtime is 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door, but may be purchased for a discount in advance at High Country Flies, Jack Dennis Sports, Westbank Anglers and Snake River Angler. Proceeds will benefit the Snake River Fund.

Among the films to be screened are “Metalhead,” from AEG, maker of “Trout Bum Diaries,” a documentary about steelhead fishing in the Northwest wilderness; and “High in the Lowlands,” from World Anglers, which captures the adrenaline rush of saltwater fly fishing. In all, the tour features footage from 25 waterways in nine countries.

Now that spring sunshine finally is here and the rivers are rushing, the Film Tour is a great way to get fired up for fishing season!