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The U.S. Forest Service has agreed to conduct detailed environmental studies of Snowbird's proposal to expand operations on the resort's American Fork side, an area that would be accessed by a new tram from Hidden Peak to the ridge between American Fork Twin Peaks.
Brian Ferebee, supervisor of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, informed resort officials last week that he is willing to evaluate the proposal to expand Snowbird's boundaries to include Mary Ellen Gulch, which is adjacent to Mineral Basin on the resort's back side.
That is the major component of the sure-to-be-controversial plan, which also includes several changes within Snowbird's existing area, including development of a new beginner area, night skiing, an upgrade of Gad II chairlift and building renovations.
"This in no way suggests I support or will ultimately approve" any or all of the proposal, Ferebee wrote in a letter to Snowbird. He later told The Salt Lake Tribune a full-blown environmental impact statement (EIS) will be required to assess the entire proposal's cumulative effects.
Completing that process could take several years and will include multiple opportunities for supporters and critics to weigh in on the issues, Ferebee added.
This proposal does not include Snowbird's separate plan to develop a roller-coaster attraction at the base of Mount Superior.
Snowbird President Bob Bonar said the Mary Ellen Gulch proposal was carefully designed to meet the resort's desire to add summer-recreation opportunities and spring skiing terrain without moving into Little Cottonwood Canyon territory that is used by backcountry skiers and important to Salt Lake City's watershed.
"We understand and are sensitive to the concerns of backcountry user groups and local environmental organizations," Bonar said, noting he met with numerous interested parties since the proposal was first submitted in May 2010.
To sweeten its appeal, he said Snowbird could be willing to put its private property in White Pine Canyon into a conservation easement, assuring nothing could be built there to compete with that canyon's backcountry user groups.
Bonar also said Snowbird would look at locating the loadout structure of the tram to American Fork Twin Peaks on a low point of the ridgeline so it would not be visible from the Salt Lake Valley.
In addition, if that tram were approved, he said Snowbird might consider reducing the size of the onload terminal on Hidden Peak. The resort's longstanding plan of developing a much larger structure atop Hidden Peak has been a source of friction with environmental groups.
The Forest Service's decision to proceed met with support and concern.
Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty praised Snowbird for striving to meet the needs of backcountry users and the Salt Lake City Water Department, while still making improvements necessary to keep the state's $1 billion ski industry competitive.
"Resorts in Colorado and California are continually upgrading. We're competing with some of the best resorts in the world that have much bigger budgets than ours," he said. "A commitment like this is great."
Visit Salt Lake President Scott Beck echoed a similar refrain. "Snowbird has proposed exciting improvements that will attract more visitors to Salt Lake County's four resorts," he said, the other three being Alta, Solitude and Brighton. "It's important for our resorts to remain viable. … It's a matter of a rising tide lifting all boats."
But Jeff Niermeyer, Salt Lake City's water czar, was skeptical that Snowbird's expansion would not damage the city's watershed.
"While the ski terrain may be in Mary Ellen Gulch on the other side of the divide, all of Snowbird's base facilities and access roads are on the Little Cottonwood side," he said, fearful also that the Forest Service's willingness to respond to Snowbird's application will encourage other resorts to advance expansion plans.
Carl Fisher, executive director of the conservation group Save Our Canyons, similarly said he saw no need for the Forest Service to investigate the proposal further because the existing plans for both the Uinta and Wasatch-Cache national forests ruled out resort expansions.
"A resort expansion generally says patron expansion is what they're after," he added. "Those new patrons would have to access Snowbird from somewhere, and that's from Salt Lake City's watershed, and that's not watershed friendly."
Forest service to study proposal
U.S. Forest Service has agreed to study Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort's request to expand in American Fork Canyon and add features:
Install tram • From Hidden Peak to the ridge between American Fork Twin Peaks
Expand resort boundary • Would include Mary Ellen Gulch, with lift built to return skiers/snowboarders to Mineral Basin
Existing Mineral Basin Express chairlift • Extend
Baby Thunder area • Develop beginner ski area near the area
Add lights • For night skiing off Gadzoom lift
Gad II lift • Make a high-speed detachable quad
Mid-Gad and Gad Valley day • Renovate lodges
Upgrades • Disabled skiing, lift maintenance offices —
Expansion plan
To see the expansion plan, go to http://bit.ly/gcmWbu