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Mt. Ashland Expansion Approved! Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor Scott Conroy announced that he has signed the Record of Decision (ROD) approving planned improvements and expansion of the Mt. Ashland Ski Area. The Record of Decision released today is the culmination of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process started in the mid 1980s. Approval for ski area expansion was granted in 1991, but required more site-specific information prior to construction of improvements. The Mt. Ashland Association provided site specific plans in 1998 and today’s approval is based on many years of scientific analysis, public collaboration and input. Jeff Hanson, Mt. Ashland Association (MAA) General Manager, said this morning “This win-win decision is great for families and the environment. We are pleased and very excited that the Forest Service has determined that we may move forward with a variety of improvements. New base facilities, parking and ski runs will greatly improve the experience for winter sports users from throughout the region. This decision will provide the ingredients for the long term success of the ski area, providing wonderful winter mountain experiences for families for years to come!” Some of the major improvements approved are new base area guest service buildings housing new restaurants, a new rental and retail shop, ticket sales, meeting space, restrooms, lockers and more, 220 new convenient parking spaces, new longer and easier ski runs served by a quad chairlift (four persons per chair), a snow tubing area and small on-mountain guest service facilities including restrooms in new convenient locations. Also approved are a variety of watershed restoration projects designed to improve the condition of the watersheds within which the ski area operates. The Association has been working on expansion planning for many years, and has invested over $750,000 in the extensive and detailed planning process. This decision now clarifies which components will be permitted. With the specifics now known, the Association will be working with professionals, staff, and community members to finalize designs based on the Forest Service approvals. Concurrently MAA will implement a community capital development campaign to raise the funds for construction. Pending resolution of anticipated appeals, MAA plans to have key improvements started by the Spring of 2005, with a portion of the first improvements open for the 2005-2006 winter sports season and more the following season. MAA Board President Greg Williams states, “This decision is great news for kids and families in our local communities! Though it’s been a long process, we praise the hard work of the Forest Service in completing a strong, comprehensive Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). It took years of planning but it was worth the wait. We appreciate that this decision has incorporated extensive public input and scientific analysis resulting in the approval for improvement of the only ski area in the region. As we develop the details for improvements based on the approval, the MAA plans to continue to use extensive public input as we create a modern, environmentally friendly facility” CALL TO ACTION First, take time to celebrate. Forest Service approval is a huge step forward after years of hard work, extensive studies and community involvement. Due in large part to hard work and grass root effort from supporters and public, the Forest Service has rendered an important decision which will allow the Mt. Ashland Ski Area to improve, expand and to meet the recreational, educational, social and economic demands for future decades. This could not have been accomplished without your passion and determination. Thank you! Second, although there will be no public comment period following the release of the ROD approving Mt. Ashland expansion, it is imperative that your voice still be heard. The Forest Service has worked hard and diligently to make this decision. It would be good that they hear from you, the vast majority of citizens of the Southern Oregon region, thanking them for their decision to move forward. A list of folks you can write or call is attached. But more important, we know that those in opposition will continue an ongoing strategy to stop the project during the appeal period. It will be increasingly important not to allow their negative message to take hold. Especially when those in opposition release gross misinformation about the proposal, it must be countered and corrected immediately. It must be overshadowed by continuing the strategy of staying on the high road, praising the plan, the positive benefits to the region, avoiding negative comments to those in opposition and simply speaking the truth. This is what you, Mt. Ashland supporters and spirited snowsports advocates can do now. Letters to the editor of our local papers expressing whole-hearted support and countering misinformation can accomplish this. Their names and addresses are attached. Refer to the attached “Answers to FAQs” to familiarize yourself the approved project. Also, link to the Forest Service’s internet site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siskiyou/planning/mtashland/feis/ for public review of the FEIS/ROD and maps. Keep this in perspective: the Forest Service has issued a ROD approving expansion and improvements on Mt. Ashland; we are in a new and different situation. We are no longer debating the issue. The decision has been made. Years of study, analysis, public input and discussion culminated in this decision to finally move forward. And that’s the main point: we move forward and not dwell on the past. Finally, sometime in the near future the MAA will be calling on the community and supporters “near and far” to make this dream a reality. After subsequent appeals have been resolved, a community effort will be organized to raise funds to construct the new lift, parking and base area improvements. Our ability to raise funds from individuals, groups, private foundations and state/federal grant sources will be the true indicator of whether or not the life-long dream of improvement and expansion of the Mt. Ashland Ski Area will be realized. The recent Forest Service approval is the long-awaited “green light” to finally move forward. We will be asking for your help. In short, MT. ASHLAND EXPANSION HAS BEEN APPROVED! Thanks for your dedicated support to improving Mt. Ashland Ski Area for future generations in Southern Oregon, Northern California and the entire northwest community of skiers/snowboarders. Let’s keep the ball rolling! New Update! Oct. 19, 2004 At the Oct. 19 Ashland City Council Meeting, councilors voted unanimously to support city staff's recommendation to endorse the Forest Service Record of Decision (ROD) approving expansion and improvements on Mt. Ashland. Thanks to all who emailed the council and community members who spoke on behalf of the MAA and Forest Service ROD. It was a great victory for the MAA and a tremendous sign of community support. WHO TO CONTACT Addresses and Resources
Public Officials
Resources
Answers to FAQs
What was the process to reach the approval of ski area expansion? Mt. Ashland operates on National Forest lands under a special use permit issued by the Forest Service. Improvements made to the ski area are proposed to the Forest Service, analyzed according to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, and approved via a Record of Decision (ROD) issued by the Forest Supervisor. The Ski Area Master Plan for expansion was approved by the Forest service in 1991. A Site-Specific proposal for mountain facility improvements, based on the Master Plan, was submitted to the Forest Service by the Mt. Ashland Association in December of 1998, and revised in March 2002. After extensive analysis and public input opportunities in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Forest Service issued their Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision approving expansion and improvement components on September 13, 2004. What is in the approval? • The approval includes a variety of components that will improve the quality and quantity of winter recreation facilities on Mt. Ashland; all within the special use permit area. Specific improvement components approved include: Base Area Facilities o New base area buildings to provide space for improvement of all guest service facilities, including food and beverage service, rental shop, learning center, ticketing, retail shop, disabled-accessible restrooms, lockers, meeting rooms, indoor learning center spaces and more. o An additional 200 parking spaces convenient to the base area buildings. Snowplay o A new facility for snow play (“tubing”) at a site near the east end of the new parking area (near the main Lodge). The facility will include tubing lanes (built from snow), a surface tow to provide uphill access for tubes and riders, restrooms and a small warming yurt. Lifts o A new chairlift to the west of the present ski runs. This lift, dubbed C-6 in the planning documents, is designed to be 4500’ long, located in a wind-protected area, and serves planned novice and intermediate ski runs. o A surface lift at the base of Windsor to provide novice access to the runs served by the C-6 lift. o A short chairlift just west of the Lodge to serve an expanded novice and intermediate skiing area. Ski and Snowboard Runs o A total of 71 acres of new ski runs were approved to add to the present 125 acres. Most of these runs are rated novice through intermediate, providing more room for the type of recreational skiing and riding preferred by most guests. Approximately 66 acres of runs are served by the C-6 lift in a wind protected area. On-Mountain Facilities o A small warming building, dubbed the Moraine Lodge, was approved to be located at the top of the C-6 lift. The building is designed to provide a place to warm up, with restrooms, simple food service and outside deck seating for good weather days. This critical facility provides basic services allowing guests to warm up or use the restroom without returning across the mountain to the base area. It is accessible from both the Ariel and C-6 lifts. What is not in the approval? o Items not included or changed from the 1998 and 2002 proposals include: The alignment of Chair C-6 has been changed to reduce impacts on Englemann Spruce. An alteration of all of the runs west of the C-6 chairlift to protect a wetland and associated vegetation, including Englemann Spruce trees in an area near the lower portions of the runs. An expert run (R-11) to be served by the C-6 lift has been removed to eliminate potential impacts to an alder glade. Access to the ridgeline (dubbed the “West Ridge”) in the FEIS, would not be permitted to provide more isolated backcountry skiing opportunities. Expanded parking is reduced and split between the area near the Base Lodge and the back parking lot to reduce potential impacts to the Cottonwood Creek watershed. Are Additional Approvals Required? o Forest Service NEPA regulations provide for administrative appeals to their decisions. Any appeals must be made to the Forest Service Regional office and must be filed within 45 days of the publication of the Record of Decision. The Regional Office generally must respond within an additional 45 days. o Federal decisions are subject to legal appeals after the administrative appeal period. Though efforts would be made to avoid them, an appeal in Federal court is possible. Appeals may or may not be quickly resolved. o For buildings and facility improvements, permits from Jackson County are required. These will be obtained as part of the planning and construction process. o Other federal permits may be required. o The Mt. Ashland Association will work closely with the City of Ashland to assure that City interests are protected and concerns are met. How much money has the MAA expended during the entire NEPA process for Mt. Ashland Ski Area expansion and improvements? • The MAA has invested approximately $750,000 in the planning and approval process. What are the next steps toward making improvements on the mountain? • The Mt. Ashland Association is presently engaged in an extensive planning and public involvement process to produce the detailed plans needed for implementation of some of the approved expansion components. A Facilities and Planning group, consisting of contracted professional builders and designers, groups of community members, and board and staff, are working to provide the details for the base area facilities. In-depth plans area also being developed for parking and other facilities. • We are also firming up capital fund raising plans and anticipate a capital campaign to finance the initial stages of improvements to commence upon resolution of any appeals. When will construction start? What will be done first? • Actual construction of additional parking, lodge and base area improvements, the new C6 chair and new novice and intermediate runs, could start as early as Spring 2005. This is contingent on the resolution of potential appeals and then, successful fundraising efforts. Why has it taken the Forest Service so long to make a decision? • Any public decision process determining the use of public land takes time. The NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) mandates the Forest Service to follow a strict, scientific approach to determine environmental impacts of each proposal. The MASA expansion proposal has generated great public interest. The Forest Service has been diligent in insuring all public comments have been acknowledged and all environmental concerns addressed before rendering a decision which best serves the public interest. When will the new runs be open? When will ski/ride the new runs? • If all appeals are resolved expeditiously and successful fundraising occurs soon after, the best-case scenarios is that we could be skiing/riding new runs for the 2005-06 season. How much more additional parking will be included in the plan? Where will it be? • The approved proposal calls for 220 additional parking places. The majority of new parking will be constructed conveniently at the entrance of existing parking near the Sonnet chairlift. The plan also calls for widening of the “bottleneck” between the main and back parking lots, and widening the back lot. Though the additional parking will greatly improve a chronic problem at Mt. Ashland, we understand that it will not completely solve it for the long term. Guests should still consider utilizing our bus shuttle program and carpool whenever possible. Will there be public transportation and/or shuttles part of the plan? • Yes, expanding our existing public transportation program is part of the plan to accommodate the increase in visitation. Extensive analysis in the FEIS examines implementation of new shuttle programs. Though these proposals are expensive and cost prohibitive, they have not been ruled out. Potential grant funding from state, federal and private foundation that encourages greater public transportation could be utilized for this. What improvements to the lodge will be made? • There will be exciting new improvements to the lodge and base area. The MAA has been working, and will continue to work, with a myriad of community members, contractors and professional designers to remedy this long existing concern at the ski area. We acknowledge current guest service deficiencies and intend to address them in the plan. Our plan calls for extensive remodeling of our existing lodge (including work to update heating, plumbing and electrical service) to be incorporated with an attached, modern structure. This new building will be architecturally consistent with the historic lodge. The result will be a highly accessible, centralized guest service facility designed to deliver exceptional arrival services to our guests. This includes a new rental area, lockers, additional restrooms, restaurant/bar, and classroom/training area, learning center, ticketing and guest service areas. How much will the improvements cost? • For all approved components, the entire project would cost approximately $5 to $10 million. The most essential components would be completed first, while others may await further consideration of need, analysis and design. How will the MAA pay for expansion? • The majority of money to pay for the cost of expansion will come from a community capital fundraising effort. Initial steps have already taken place and the main effort will commence soon after appeals are resolved. Where’s the money coming from? • Essentially, the money will come from the same places the $1.6 million raised to “Save Mt. Ashland” in 1992. A comprehensive, community fundraising effort will be organized, drawing from support of individuals, private foundations and state/federal grants. In March 2003, an independent consulting firm completed a yearlong development study commissioned by the MAA. Their findings concluded that the MAA enjoys great support for expansion in the Rogue Valley community and beyond. We plan to utilize the study’s findings to launch a region wide campaign to fund improvements and expansion on Mt. Ashland. The MAA Board of Directors will also be examining every avenue available to the Association in raising the necessary capital for expansion and improvements. Will the cost of a season pass and tickets go up to cover the cost of expansion? • Not necessarily. The MAA is committed to providing affordable winter recreation, as stated in our mission. This has been demonstrated in our discounted season pass prices. Every consumer good and service has increased in price in the past due mainly in part to rising costs in general. Raising ticket and season passes is not a consideration for covering cost of expansion. However it is safe to say that prices will increase simply to cover the cost of doing business. Who’s doing the work? • There are many components to the project that will be put out for bid. For the base area facilities, the board has made a commitment to select a local contractor to in order to keep the many jobs and commerce created here in our local economy. We are pleased that several qualified construction firms that have the expertise for expansion construction, conduct business here in the Rogue Valley. Will there be a moraine lodge? What will it look like? • The FEIS and ROD approves building of a mid-mountain lodge facility located at the terminal moraine at the base of the Bowl. Initially, a temporary yurt-type structure will be constructed to offer guests a warming area, restrooms and limited food services. In another phase in the future a permanent structure, architecturally designed to blend into the surrounding environment will be constructed to serve guests and enhance greater program offerings. Will the MAA have to hire more people to run the ski area? • Yes, with an additional lift and expanded lodge and base area facilities in place, more staff will be needed to serve our guests. What other operational costs will increase? • Detailed analysis is ongoing to determine operational cost estimates for various facility options. With green building techniques, efficient heating equipment and efficient lift drive systems, it is anticipated that non-labor operational costs should remain fairly stable. Will expansion be done all at one time? • It is unlikely that all components of the MASA Expansion proposal approved in the ROD will be completed all at one time. The scope is far too great considering they are contingent on the MAA’s ability to raise all the funds needed and the relatively short building period available each season. The project will likely be done in phases determined by the needs as assessed by our board, staff and volunteers. When will all of the expansion be completed? • Once construction starts, it anticipated that all phases of expansion would take 5-10 years to complete. What is the relationship between MAA and the City of Ashland? • The Mt. Ashland Association operates and manages the ski area through a lease from the City of Ashland, owner of the fixed assets of the ski area and holder of the special-use permit from the Rogue River National Forest. The City ownership of the assets on the mountain was made possible through private donations from the general public raised during the community campaign in 1992. No public tax dollars were used to purchase the mountain nor have any been used to operate and manage the resort. • The City has a strong interest in protection of the Ashland Watershed, and an interest in the success of the ski area. It is essential that the MAA work with the City to assure their interests are protected.
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