A River Changed

Why is there a dam here?

NPS Photo/G. Lemen

Quick Facts

Amenities

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Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Wheelchair Accessible

Did you know that Jackson Lake Dam was built years before the lake became part of Grand Teton National Park? And that it is managed by the Bureau of Land Reclamation? Jackson Lake has existed at the base of the Tetons for thousands of years, but it was in 1906 that the lake was forever changed. A log crib dam was built, but shortly after failed. In 1916, an earthen dam—built by the Bureau of Land Reclamation—raised the lake by 39 feet. Eventually, the lake, dam, and the Snake River that feeds it became part of the park. The management remains a collaborative effort with water release flows affecting various agencies beyond park borders.

Planning on exploring the river downstream? Travel the route of the Snake River by foot over the in-ground river sculpture beneath your feet. It provides an aerial view of the meandering and braided route of the river.

Jackson Lake and the Snake River have been forever changed by the dam, but the connection people have with these iconic waterways remains.