If you have ever been caught in a mountain storm you know that in the midst of howling wind, driving rain and darkening skies it is easy to lose your bearings and lose your way. When the storm passes the first thing you need to do is to determine where you are. Sort of like the red dot on the map at the mall that says, “you are here.” Once you know where you really are you can chart a course to where you need to go.
There has been a storm of contentious claims and swirling chatter in public meetings, private conversations and on the Internet regarding Snowbird’s Mary Ellen Gulch Expansion application. Some of those who oppose the project have created such a tumult of confusion that very few people truly understand what this project is.
The stormy “parade of horribles” some opponents wish the public to believe begins with nightmare scenarios of traffic and cars and hotels and contaminated water. It is a whirlwind that couldn’t be further from reality. Snowbird has a 45-year history of conservation, water management and a commitment to the environment that is second to none.
Where are we? A pause and a look at reality shows this is simply additional ski terrain that would represent 860 acres out of 39,000 in the canyon or about 2.2 percent of the canyon land. All of the land is privately owned by Snowbird, and the expansion site is well over 4 miles away from Tibble Fork. It is important to note that people have been skiing in Mary Ellen Gulch for years, through cat skiing and heli-skiing, so this type of recreation in the area is not something new. Snowbird has thoughtfully studied and planned ski lift placement away from mine portals and tailings. These lifts will not be visible from either Tibble Fork or Silver Lake Flat reservoirs, and no additional traffic will be created in American Fork Canyon.
More importantly, the project will not affect water quality. Mary Ellen Gulch water represents 0.5 percent of water contributing to the Utah Valley aquifer that is located about 10 miles downstream at the mouth of the canyon. Despite American Fork’s long history of mining, both the river and the aquifer continue to meet all state-assigned water quality standards. Snowbird’s 45-year experience effectively managing drinking water in Little Cottonwood Canyon and 17 years of success managing water in Mineral Basin are a testament to its absolute commitment to careful stewardship of land and resources.
There are a host of additional benefits to the public and the environment that get lost in the torrent of misinformation. The project will actually result in a more comprehensive water monitoring program in the canyon, safer recreation around historic mining areas, better cellphone coverage, and better avalanche control for backcountry recreation, just to name a few.
Snowbird also has a proven history of cooperation with government entities, including the U.S. Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Environmental Quality, Salt Lake County Department of Public Utilities and both Salt Lake and Utah counties. All of this land, public and private, has been thoroughly reviewed by the EPA, which concluded that no further remedial action is planned.
Snowbird recognizes that the solution to any misunderstanding begins when someone says, “let’s talk about it.” Snowbird has reached out to the Utah Valley community and elected officials to talk about this project and continue to invite all to participate. We appreciate those who have been willing to join in such crucial conversations. Snowbird has been surprised that some elected officials would rather deploy political delay tactics while creating distractions and distortions of the truth than engage in honest, open dialogue. We welcome the opportunity to address a stormy start and dispel the clouds of doubt and misinformation while casting a little sunshine on what the Mary Ellen Gulch project actually is.
With a clear understanding of where we are and what the project is we are hopeful we can now chart a course forward for the canyon, with the citizens and for the community.
Bob Bonar is president and general manager of Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. He started working at Snowbird in 1971 before the resort opened and in his nearly 20 years as general manager has spearheaded many projects and programs, including the mine cleanups in American Fork Canyon and the creation of the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation.