The U.S. Forest Service has approved a revised plan to expand Snowbird Ski Resort by 37 acres.
The approval, based on an inch-thick environmental assessment, was the last official hurdle in Snowbird's attempt to open a new beginner/intermediate ski hill. The public has until May 3 to appeal the decision.Snowbird, in Little Cottonwood Canyon, is popular with advanced skiers around the globe for its steep slopes and deep powder, but it has had trouble accommodating the growing number of novices. The new hill is designed to relieve recent congestion of those skiers.
"We're heavily weighted on the expert side," said John Loomis, Snowbird's director of mountain operations.
The expansion will provide added room for the resort's ski school and relocate the race facilities "so they're not right in the middle of the resort," said Loomis.
Expansion would include eight new ski runs - six beginner and two intermediate - as well as a race course and training run.
A new chairlift, dubbed Baby Thunder, will service the hill. It will be a double chair, Snowbird's 10th lift.
Loomis expects to complete the expansion by next ski season.
Snowbird's original proposal called for 12 new runs on 40 developed acres. The approved plan, revised by William P. LeVere, acting forest supervisor for the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, has two fewer runs than the original and moves several of the runs in an effort to leave some wetland and alder habitat intact.
The Forest Service decision does not change Snowbird's existing ski area boundaries, as approved in the Salt Lake County master plan. Still, some feel Snowbird officials are overstepping their bounds.
"That master plan was put into effect before we had the problems of the past two years," said Stephen Lewis of the environmental organization Save Our Canyons.
He said enough is enough: The Wasatch Front's big three resort canyons are already too crowded.
"Resort developers and Forest Service officials are working in tandem to turn our pristine canyon hillsides into artificial industrial areas," said Lewis.
If the public had a voice in the issue, added Lewis, "they would say, `Let's put a stop to further commercial expansion on both sides of the tri-canyon area.' "
Lewis also expressed regret that keeping canyon traffic to a minimum doesn't seem to be a Forest Service priority.
"It's not minor, the impact. I suppose for those who want a freeway up and down our canyons, expansion is fine," said Lewis. "But those are our places of retreat and renewal. Are they supposed to be like downtown Salt Lake?"
In its study, the U.S. Forest Service found the development will have "only a short-term and low-intensity impact on the human environment," which includes traffic concerns.
The study also said there will be "no significant adverse effects to historic or cultural resources, park land, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild or scenic rivers, or ecologically critical areas."
"We're reasonably happy with (the Forest Service) decision," said Loomis. "I think it addresses the environmental concerns we had."
According to plans, the base of Baby Thunder lift will be located near the resort's western margin, about 1,400 feet from the base of Gad 1 lift. Baby Thunder would extend 1,914 feet and rise about 650 feet.
The expansion will result in an additional capacity of 360 skiers, bringing Snowbird's total to 4,475 skiers at one time.
Loomis said he doesn't expect a large increase in skiers because of the expansion, only more space for Snowbird's current clientele.