A new bill soon to be presented to Congress, the Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Area Act (CWNCRA), would allow for the transfer of up to 340 acres of developable public Forest Service land located in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons to the Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude ski resorts.
Once these resorts gain title to the land they will be able to develop it as they see fit. Expect to see new structures, hotels, lodges, condominiums and other businesses that will bring people to the canyons and dollars to the ski resorts.
On July 9 , the Central Wasatch Commission (which is the successor to the Mountain Accord) passed a resolution directing the CWC executive director to meet separately with the members of the CWC Executive Committee to revise this bill and once completed to deliver it to Utah’s congressional delegation who will be encouraged to work to get the bill passed and enacted into law.
This bill has some good provisions, such as the addition of approximately 8,500 acres to the wilderness areas and the designation of the White Pine Special Management Area. The White Pine area would be managed to maintain its natural state, but helicopter skiing would be allowed and mountain biking would be prohibited, even on the trails in the lower portion of the canyon near the main canyon road.
But, the fatal flaw in this bill is the possible transfer of developable public lands to the four ski resorts. The ski resorts would trade private lands on the hillsides and ridgetops for this developable public land near the existing ski resort infrastructure. The preliminary map shows that Solitude could receive up to 125 acres, Brighton up to 25 acres, Alta up to 110 acres and Snowbird up to 80 acres. This is a total of 340 acres of developable land in some of the most valuable areas of the canyons.
This land is not cheap land. It is prime real estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Because it is public land it has never been available for the ski resorts or anyone else to acquire and develop. But this bill changes that. These lands will now be available to the ski resorts. Imagine the real estate construction and development that would fill the canyon. Think about what the canyons will be like if the ski resorts, which already dominate the canyons, grow by 25 percent, 50 percent or maybe even 100 percent. They will become even more dominant and more influential.
This will result in higher prices for resort users and more inconvenience, problems and challenges for anyone who uses the canyons for non-resort activities. Imagine the increased traffic, noise and congestion. The transportation system in the canyon is already inadequate. This new development would break it. But that is not all, there is no mention of the transportation issues in the canyons that this expansion will cause. In effect, the message is let’s make it possible for resort expansion now and we will worry about transportation issues later.
This is the second fatal flaw of this bill. There is nothing in the bill that solves or even addresses the transportation issues in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons. When the Mountain Accord was established, its stated mission was to address and solve the transportation issues of the two canyons. The mission of the CWC as the successor to the Mountain Accord is also to address and solve the transportation issues.
Sadly, this proposed bill does not do that. In fact, transportation in the canyons is not even mentioned in the proposed bill. Without a solution to the transportation issues any actions that increase the development or use of the canyons will just add to the already existing problems of the canyons.
My plea to you is to read the bill. If you agree with my conclusions then contact your government leaders. Contact the members of the CWC. Contact your mayor, your congressman, your senator, your governor. Let them know your opinion. I don’t care where you sit, what your politics are, or what your or position is, you have a right to speak and to have your voice be heard.
Vaughn Cox
Vaughn Cox, Sandy, is a long term resident living near the mouths of Little Cottonwood Canyon and a member of the Granite Community Council.