The Telluride Watch (Nov. 12, 2009), Karen James reports: Bear Creek Opponents Hope Decision Will Resonate Locally
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.”