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Sunday, 15 November 2009 |
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The Telluride Watch (Nov. 12, 2009), Karen James reports: Bear Creek Opponents Hope Decision Will Resonate Locally
http://tinyurl.com/ybc4n3m
TELLURIDE
– The U.S Forest Service has rejected plans by the Crested Butte
Mountain Resort to expand its area onto 276 undeveloped acres on nearby
Snodgrass Mountain on the grounds that the expansion does not serve the
public interest.
“It is my finding that it is not in the public
interest to continue to consider development on Snodgrass Mountain any
further,” wrote Charles S. Richmond, supervisor of the Grand Mesa,
Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, in a letter to resort
executives dated Nov. 5.
Richmond took several factors into
consideration in making the decision, including community support and
economic and social costs such as transportation impacts and increased
demand for public services.
“Based on what I have heard and
read, I am convinced that the community is deeply divided over the
proposed development of Snodgrass Mountain,” he stated.
Additionally,
Richmond cited concern that the expansion would pressure adjacent and
nearby private lands to shift away from ranching toward commercial ski
base and housing development, as well as environmental issues including
geologic hazards, boundary management issues, and the potential loss of
suitable Canada lynx habitat on the upper portions of Snodgrass
Mountain.
He noted that easy access to the expanded area by the
general public would be difficult to establish, and denied the resort’s
ability to undergo the National Environmental Policy Act review process.
“Acceptance
of your proposal would require a large commitment of both our resources
and yours. In addition, local governments, stakeholders, and interested
parties would need to expend time and energy engaging in the NEPA
process,” wrote Richmond.
“To proceed, I must be convinced that
such an effort could lead to a decision which serves the public
interest and for which there is a high likelihood of success. I am not
convinced of this but rather am convinced otherwise,” he continued.
“I
believe that perpetuation of the debate in the NEPA process would
further deepen the division that exists in the community and would
likely uncover additional environmental concerns. Relationships among
all interests and all parties would be taxed, if not damaged.”
“It
is difficult to express the depth of our disappointment regarding this
decision," CBMR president Tim Mueller said in a statement reported by
the Denver Post.
Conservationists, however, couldn’t be more pleased.
“This
denial is very significant,” said Rocky Smith, Forest Watch Program
Director for Colorado Wild, which focuses on the protection,
preservation and restoration of native plants and animals in the
Southern Rocky Mountains.
Smith said that only once during his
25-year career reviewing Forest Service projects (including the
Telluride Ski and Golf Company’s expansion into Prospect Basin that he
opposed) has he ever seen the agency turn down a request to expand a
ski area or open a new one.
“We think it’s a very good decision,” he said, adding he hopes it will start a new trend.
Sheep
Mountain Alliance Director Hilary White is optimistic that the decision
could influence whether Telski ultimately pursues an expansion into
Upper Bear Creek, where in January the Norwood Ranger District granted
the company a special use permit to begin a snow study.
While
the immediate aim of the study is to arm ski patrol and search and
rescue teams with better data about the terrain and snowpack in Upper
Bear Creek, it will also inevitably provide Telski with information it
would need were it to formally propose expanding its boundary into the
area.
“We are very encouraged that in this case the good of the
public was recognized with higher value than the good of a private
corporation,” said White.
“We think this is a very good sign and
sends a message to Telski that they should think twice before they
propose an expansion plan into an area that is highly valued as
pristine by the local community.”
Telski Chief Executive Officer
Dave Riley remained unconcerned about the potential for the Snodgrass
decision to impact a potential Bear Creek expansion.
“I think that each of these different ski areas are looked at on a case-by-case basis,” he said.
Besides, “We’re just still studying whether we’re going to propose some sort of expansion.” |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 November 2009 |
Lake Solitude Trail and other watercolors by Bea Jillette, Goshen, are featured in FOMS November 2009 newsletter.
FOMS March 2008 Newsletter (447 KB) 