JACKSON, Wyo. — Momentum continues to build for the future construction of the Hoback water system, most recently with the approval of pre-design funding from the County Commission.
During the Dec. 17 meeting, Commissioners approved the use of up to $100,000 for pre-design work by Nelson Engineering for a future Hoback water supply system, located on county land near the confluence of the Hoback and Snake Rivers. The County previously agreed to provide an easement on this land to house a portion of the water supply infrastructure, including the infiltration gallery and associated pipes.
In August, the Hoback Water and Sewer District, with support from Nelson Engineering, applied for state funding for the future water system through the Wyoming Water Development Commission. In November, the WWDC recommended funding the design work in the amount of $274,450 to the Wyoming Select Water Committee. Representative Mike Yin and Senator Mike Gierau sit on the committee.
If awarded, the Hoback Water and Sewer District is required to match the grant at 50%, bringing the total design cost to $548,900. The project, along with other approved applications, will go to the legislature this session and funds are expected to be awarded by the Select Water Committee in March or April.
“There is a hope that when this money comes out of the legislature, not only would the $274,000 be approved but also some construction money,” County Attorney Keith Gingery said during the Dec. 17 meeting, noting that those funds would likely not be available until 2026.
The $100,000 from the county will be used for pre-design work, including data gathering, surveying and flood studies, aimed at keeping the project moving forward. According to Nelson Engineering’s project scope, the pre-design work could be completed by the end of March, aligning with the grant awards.
Back in 2022, voters approved Specific Purpose Excise Tax (SPET) proposition #15: $10 million for Teton County water quality projects. The proposition received the most support from voters, compared to the other 15 SPET initiatives that appeared on the ballot.
From this fund, the Commission pledged $3 million to the Hoback water system, with the caveat that other funding sources would be pursued rather than relying on the SPET funds completely, considering the number of other water quality related projects identified in the Water Quality Management Plan.
The Community Foundation of Jackson Hole announced on Dec. 20 that Hoback Junction Water and Sewer District is a 2024 Catalyst Grants recipient, awarding the district $10,000 through the Opportunities Grants, aimed at addressing complex community issues, based on community need, anticipated impact and organizational capacity to deliver.
The expected total cost of the Hoback water system infrastructure is about $5 million. In September, the Commissioners gave the go ahead for formation of a Water Quality Advisory Board and Water Quality Technical Working Group to help implement and prioritize water projects.
In December, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) released its final assessment report citing the main causes of elevated nitrate levels in the groundwater in the Hoback Junction area is due to the density of domestic septic systems in the area. Investigations into the drinking water by the WDEQ began in 2020.
