As the environment continues to change, the park’s small alpine glaciers face an uncertain future. To better understand these shifts, park scientists are expanding data collection efforts and deploying new technologies to monitor several glaciers, including Teton, Falling Ice, Schoolroom, and Glacier Peak. While larger glaciers such as Middle Teton and Teton may persist for centuries, projections remain uncertain.

Elevation surveys play a critical role in this work, measuring gains and losses in ice volume over time, key indicators of glacier health and the stability of the broader hydrological system. Since 2015, physical science staff and climbing rangers have collected hundreds of GPS measurements across the surfaces of park glaciers to document these changes. Continued monitoring will allow scientists to better quantify rates of ice loss and understand the cascading effects on water resources and park ecosystems.

In addition to monitoring alpine headwaters, the Foundation supports Grand Teton National Park’s capacity to conduct research to better understand the health of streams and rivers throughout the valleys of the park. The data gathered informs infrastructure and roadway planning, supports coordination with agencies on runoff forecasting and flow releases, and helps strengthen landscape resilience in the face of potential flow extremes.