• Utah Ski Area Action

    11 Oct 2008 /  Uncategorized

    Utah ski resorts are putting forth a great effort to preserve their spectacular natural surroundings. Curbing global warming to ensure a continued abundance of the Greatest Snow on Earth® is essential to our industry and all those who partake in winter sports.

    From running chairlifts utilizing wind power to providing economic incentive for their guests to opt for public transportation, ski areas have implemented creative measures to ensure a better environment for present and future generations of skiers and snowboarders to enjoy.

    Salt Lake City International Airport was recently recognized for its contributions for preventing pollution. The Recycling Coalition of Utah presented the Salt Lake City Department of Airports with an award for the Local Government Recycling Program of the Year. The airport was also recognized by the Pollution Prevention Association for “Outstanding Achievement in Pollution Prevention.”

    Below are some of the many steps that members of Utah’s ski industry are taking to protect natural resources:

    Alta Ski Area

    Alta Ski Area is committed to its second year as a Visionary Partner with Rocky Mountain Power through the Blue Sky program. Our choice to participate in clean, renewable wind power is our promise to purchase 900,000 kilowatt-hours (kwh) for the next 12- month period, offsetting over 23% of Alta’s energy consumption. The environmental impact is equivalent to avoiding 900 tons of CO2 emissions per year. “It is the right thing to do,” remarks Alta’s President and General Manager, Onno Wieringa. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with this program to take our commitment to the next level.” http://www.utahpower.net/Homepage/Homepage66524.html.

    Alta continues its relationship with Clif Bar and the SkiGreenTM program from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to make Sugarloaf lift a ‘Green Lift.” Clif Bar, a company dedicated to restoring and sustaining our environment, and one who supports others who do so, works with Alta in purchasing renewable energy certificates through SkiGreen. Offsetting the energy used to run this lift translates to another 11% of Alta’s energy consumption covered by renewable energy, bringing the total to 34%. Alta skiers will also have the opportunity to support renewable energy. Through SkiGreen, skiers can purchase a $2.00 SkiGreen Tag on alta.com and at our ticket offices. These dollars purchase clean wind energy on their behalf.

    Alta is the first and only ski resort to become a member of Salt Lake City’s environmental e2 program that recognizes businesses for their efforts to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. www.slcgreen.com.

    Alta will continue to educate employees and public about the value of our environmental efforts and impacts on global warming. Says Wieringa, ” We challenge our managers and employees to come up with new ideas to be more energy efficient.” Alta’s Environmental Report can be viewed online at www.alta.com. The report lists more accomplishments and enduring efforts we have made during the last two decades to remedy past environmental impacts and to integrate sustainable environmental practices into our everyday operations.

    Alta Ski Area is dedicated to sustainable environmental practices - learning from the past, being guided by best-management practices now, and leading with innovation and research into the future.

    Park City Mountain Resort

    Park City Mountain Resort understands the importance of a sustainable environment and wants to become an environmental leader in the community. This will be accomplished through the Resort’s initiatives to decrease its environmental impact and slow the process of global climate changes. These environmental initiatives are focused in several areas: climate protection and renewable energy purchasing and on-mountain education.

    NEW - View our Park City Mountain Resort Green Initiative Summary (PDF), compiled by our “Green Team” of employee volunteers.

    Climate Protection and Renewable Energy Purchasing:
    The Resort has completed a thorough energy audit on its entire operation to determine where and how it can save energy. From this audit the Resort set the goal to save 3,000 tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere for the 2006-07 season; in actuality the Resort reduced its CO2 output by 3739. This will keep 196 cars off the road or power 116 households for one year. The Resort will accomplish these savings in the following ways:

    • Since 2004 the Resort has used renewable energy to power its chairlifts. For the 2006-2007 season the Resort will purchase 15 percent of its power from Renewable Choice Energy. This purchase of wind-generated power is enough to operate all four of the Resort’s six-passenger chairlifts. This commitment will keep 3.64 million pounds of Greenhouse Gas Emissions out of the atmosphere which is equal to not driving 4.04 million miles, planting 491 acres of trees or 218 households each year.
    • Over the past two years the Resort has decreased its snowmobile fleet by 30 percent. This keeps 31 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere which is equal to not driving 66,371 miles or planting 1,265 seedlings for 10 years.
    • The Resort’s entire snowcat fleet is fueled by biodiesel. This initiative keeps 55 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere which is equal to not driving 117,800 miles or planting 12,100 trees.
    • The Resort has printed its 2006-2007 mountain guides on recycled paper and decreased the use of paper products in its lodges by using washable dishes.
    • Beginning in the 2005-2006 season the Resort began purchasing snowmaking fan guns which are more energy efficient. The Resort has a total of 19 fan guns. The Resort has also retrofitted all of the nozzles and chambers on its ground snowmaking guns and installed variable frequency drives at the cooling tower. These three initiatives will keep 1,432 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere which is equal to not driving 3.18 million miles or enough power to supply 172 households for a year.

    The Resort is also seeking ways to produce alternative energy.

    • The Resort is investigating potential sites to place a wind turbine and develop its own wind farm.
    • Park City Mountain Resort is researching sites to generate solar power.
    • The Resort is also looking to retrofit the lighting used for night skiing on PayDay run with more energy efficient lighting. In addition, the Resort will look at retrofitting all of its lodges and facilities with more energy efficient lighting.

    Park City Municipal

    During the summer of 2006, Park City and Summit County became the first governmental entities in the State of Utah to begin exclusively using bio-diesel fuel in its fleet of public buses. These free public buses carry more than 1.7 million passengers each year.

    Snowbasin

    Since Snowbasin’s opening days the Resort has considered the environment a first priority, protecting soil, water quality, wetlands, wildlife and aesthetic values. To that end they have developed a Vegetation Management Programs.

    Snowbasin has created a native conifer seedling nursery that has ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, blue spruce and Engelmann spruce. Establishing seedlings for out planting in other locations at the resort is another task of this program. Other programs include a) sanitation and salvage of fir trees affected by the fir engraver and b) identification and control of non native, invasive plant species.

    Powder Mountain

    The Powder Mountain Conservancy is committed to improving environmental performance in all aspects of the resorts’ operations and managing the area to allow for their continued enjoyment by future generations.

    RECYCLING:
    Last winter Powder Mountain guests, residents, and employees recycled over 12 TONS of trash. Our goal is to increase the total volume of recycled waste by 20% a year through 2011. Look for new recycling stations in all lodges starting winter 2008. Also starting in 2008, 100% of the used motor oil from our vehicle fleet will be used to help heat the maintenance shop and all restrooms will begin using recycled paper products.

    WATER QUALITY:
    Beginning 2008 the resort will begin using phosphate free soaps and cleaners in all lodges / bathrooms / and laundry facilities. This change will improve the quality of wastewater entering the system.

    ELECTRICTY:
    The resort is currently undergoing an audit from Rocky Mountain Power that will recommend ways to reduce consumption and increase efficiency of our power usage. In 2007 the resort started replacing burned out bulbs with T8 fluorescent and CFL incandescent which use 25% less power and last up to 400% longer.

    FOREST PRESERVATION AND REFORESTATION:
    For years the resort has helped preserve its forests in the summer months by removing brush, excess fuel, and deadfall. This season the resort will increase its preservation efforts by iniating a noxious weed eradication program, specifically targeting areas infected with dyers woad and re-seeding overgrazed and eroding areas with natural grasses. In addition, a long-term reforestation plan for logged and diseased areas is currently being established.

    TRANSPORTATION:
    With a current fleet of 5 busses and 2 passenger vans providing free transportation to and from all local lodging and a public parking lot in the center of town all Powder Mountain employees and guests have the option of not driving up to the resort. This saves hundreds of gallons of fuel and reduces traffic on the highway. Our goal is to increase the number of passengers using the shuttle service by 15% a year through 2011.

    SNOWMAKING:
    Making snow even on a small scale uses millions of gallons of water and tens of thousands of kilowatt-hours of electricity a year. The average snow-gun uses nearly 100 gallons of water per minute. That’s over 45,000 gallons of water per gun in an 8 hour session. Powder Mountain’s decision to refrain from snowmaking is two-fold. First and foremost it provides a safer, better quality experience for our guests. Second it saves more natural resources than all other conservation efforts combined.

    COMMUNITY SUPPORT:
    Powder Mountain encourages its staff members to be active in their community by volunteering time to local non-profit and charitable organizations. Starting summer 2008 the resort will reimburse full-time staff members for up to 5 hours of volunteer service with the organization of their choice.
    The Pickup-3 initiative adopted last winter encourages employees and guests to pickup 3 pieces of litter throughout their daily activities.

    If you want to help or have any suggestions please contact us at: conservancy@powdermountain.com

    Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort

    Citing its participation in the American Fork Pacific Mine reclamation project, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) awarded Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort the 2007 Golden Eagle Award for Overall Environmental Excellence by a ski resort Sunday, May 6, 2007. The Golden Eagle award and seven Silver Eagle awards were presented at the NSAA National Convention and Tradeshow in Palm Springs, Calif.

    “We’re really proud to be a part of a project that has such a positive impact on aquatic wildlife and water quality,” said Snowbird Owner Dick Bass. “Our partners Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service and Tiffany & Co., played an integral part in the project and we would like to thank them immensely.”

    Along with partners Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service and Tiffany & Co., Snowbird made history during the summer of 2006 as the first private landowner in Utah to help fund a mining-era cleanup effort to eliminate tailings seepage from the Pacific Mine that was affecting the American Fork watershed. Located on Snowbird-owned property, the Pacific Mine site is roughly three miles south of Snowbird’s Hidden Peak.

    “Snowbird’s mine reclamation project clearly demonstrates environmental leadership, vision and innovation. This project sets a new standard in the industry by addressing the issue of pollution from mining - the greatest source of toxic waste in the United States,” said Ricardo Balazs, sports marketing manager for Clif Bar, a leading maker of all-natural energy foods for winter sports enthusiasts and award program administrator. “Snowbird’s mine reclamation project also highlights the power of a partnership between the private sector, government and a major environmental group to restore the environment and protect regional communities.”

    In addition to the Golden Eagle award, Snowbird’s participation in the Pacific Mine reclamation project was recognized with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Achievement Award and the State of Utah’s 2007 Earth Day Award. Snowbird was also nominated for the 2007 Silver Eagle award for excellence in visual impact. Other finalists for the Golden Eagle award included four-time Golden Eagle award winner and nine-time Silver Eagle award winner Aspen Skiing Company and Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

    The Golden Eagle Awards for Environmental Excellence were established in 1993 to recognize the environmental achievements of ski areas. The 2007 award is the second Golden Eagle for Snowbird. The awards honor members of the National Ski Areas Association, which represents the majority of ski area owners and operators in North America.

    In December 2005 Snowbird became the first ski area to partner with the National Forest Foundation (NFF) in an effort to provide funds for conservation projects around the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, where the resort is located. The program has raised $84,646 since it was instituted.

    Solitude Mountain Resort

    Queen Bess Glading Project: Suring the summer of 2006, Solitude began the first year of a 5-year glading project, reaffirming the resorts dedication to the ecosystem. Solitude is glading an area of forest previously ear-marked by its forest management plan as an �overly dense forest in bad health.� By thinning out the forest over a longer period of time, the resort is allowing the forest to heal in between glading sessions. This ensures a solid root system for many years to come and a healthier forest altogether. To minimize impact and waste, Solitude is utilizing lumber from the glading project for parking barricades, mountain sign posts and other projects.

    Noxious and Non-Native Weed Abatement Program: An ongoing program to stymie the spread of weeds has been underway since the spring of 2005. Weeds can be introduced as easily as one seed from a bike tire being transferred from another environment. Requiring little water to grow and spread, weeds can overtake the native flora in a short amount of time. Solitude uses both mechanical, as well as environmentally sound chemical means to destroy and prevent the spread of weeds harming the native vegetation and soil. Big Cottonwood Canyon�s soil supports several hundred species of wildflowers, plus other native plants that wildlife depends on for food and shelter. Solitude�s first priority is to identify, document and map problem areas, and then begins the abatement process. Working with the Forest Service, and organizations such as the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, additional goals are to reinstate native flora in reclaimed areas to prevent weeds from re-invading.

    Sundance Resort

    Ride the Wind with Sundance
    The Sundance Resort partnered with Utah Power’s Blue Sky Program and Utah Clean Energy Alliance to replace 10 percent of traditional power usage with clean, pollution free wind power, enough to keep 220 tons of carbon monoxide out of the atmosphere each year.

    Sundance Resort issued a challenge to the surrounding community, asking they match the Sundance commitment and the community responded by doubling the purchase. Working together, the Sundance Village and Sundance Community members are have offset a total of 640 tons of C02 from the atmosphere.

    Recycling
    Cardboard, cans, paper and plastic.

    Recycled Glassworks
    Because recycling glass in Utah presents its own set of challenges, Sundance Resort installed its own glass works kiln. Now wine and other glass bottles are not only recycled, but turned into decorative art and housewares, for use around the property. The artists use up to five 30 gallon barrels of glass each day and are able to produce up to 500 glasses each day.

    Green products and building
    A Green Building Policy guides all new development and remodeling projects at Sundance Village. For instance, the Spa at Sundance contains many environmentally responsible building products including low VOC paint, water saving devices, energy efficient lighting and heating, wallboard made from sunflower seed hulls and the use of Trestlewood - a lumber salvaged from the Great Salt Lake.

    Green purchasing
    All Sundance Resort departments purchase environmentally responsible products. All the furniture on the decks of the cabins are made from 100% recycled milk jugs. Our restaurant and catering teams use organic produce and products, as well as chlorine free products such as paper cups and coffee filters.

    Green Meetings & Lodging
    Guest of the resort can opt to participate in our linen re-use program, saving water, energy and waste. Rooms are cleaned using non-toxic cleaning supplies and guests are given the opportunity to recycle their paper, cans and glass products. All rooms are equipped with AVEDA shampoos and conditioners, natural Sundance soaps are made in the Artisan Center.

    Sundance meeting rooms are equipped with recycling receptacles, recycled paper products. Our catering facilities use bulk creams, sugars and other condiments to cut down on waste.

    Restoration Projects
    Sundance Resort mountain staff implements ongoing mitigation projects each year aimed at restoring the mountain to its natural state by working to eliminate noxious weeds on the mountain, laying erosion blankets and restoring vegetation where seasonal land use has altered the terrain.

    Transportation
    All to promote the conservation of energy and lessening of polluting emissions Sundance Resort offers a carpooling incentive for ski guests. If you have 4 people in your car, the fourth person gets $10 off their lift ticket. In addition, Sundance Resort employees are encouraged to use the local bus service during the winter months.

    Sundance uses hybrid vehicles on property.

    The Sundance Nature Center
    Sundance is one of the few resorts that offers guests access to a full-time naturalist on staff. Our naturalists lead regularly scheduled nature hikes for guests to Stewart Falls, Scotts Pond and other breathtaking locations. Additionally, we offer the Sundance Kid’s Camp, introducing the kid’s to the flora and fauna of the canyon. Additional seasonal nature programs are offered. Winter season brings the Sundance Ski Ecology program, a guided history and ecological tour of the mountain, while the Nordic Center’s Night Owling program introduces visitors to the various species of owls and their importance within the eco-system.

    Conservation Easements
    Conservation Easements have become the bedrock for preservation in the North Fork canyon. On Sundance October 4th, 1998, a small group of people gathered on a ridge along the Alpine Scenic Loop for a dedication of the Redford Family Nature and Wildlife Preserve. The conservation easement forever protects over 860 acres of scenic vistas and canyonlands, providing a habitat for mule, deer, grouse, songbirds and raptors. Additionally, the Stewart Family has set aside lands for preservation along with other individual property owners in the canyon. Currently, the Sundance Preserve has just under 3000 acres preserved.

    Utah Olympic Park

    The Utah Olympic Park in Park City recycles the water they use on the summer nordic jumps and the summer freestyle pool.

    Wolf Mountain/Wolf Creek Resort

    Audubon International has designated the golf course at Wolf Creek Resort & Club as the first course in Utah to become a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Audubon International states in its award letter, “[Wolf Creek Resort] has shown a clear commitment to enhancing wildlife habitat, protecting water quality, conserving resources, and education. Through preserving and managing water, wildlife, and other natural resources, [Wolf Creek] is significantly contributing to the conservation of biological diversity at a time when the rates of species extinction and habitat loss are at an unprecedented high.”

    When asked why it was important for Wolf Creek to proceed through the lengthy process (that takes in some cases years) of achieving certification, Monica Fuit, Wolf Creek Resort & Club Golf Superintendent, stated, “for the simple enjoyment of watching the wildlife reappear on the course.” She sited a red fox as a recent visitor. The reasons for Wolf Creek’s application for certification to the Audubon were numerous. For one, achieving sanctuary status changes public perceptions of golf course waste, where using less water is important for playability. However, the decision to transform Wolf Creek’s golf course into a wildlife sanctuary, was essentially made in deference to the beautiful natural setting of the Ogden Valley, the wildlife, and the natural resourses therein.

    The first step in enhancing the environmental quality of the existing Wolf Creek course for the Audubon was developing a site assessment and environmental plan. The environmental plan was developed by Rob Thomas, Wolf Creek Managing Member, and Superintendent Monica Fuit. The certification process was divided into six conservation stages; each requiring signatures for specific certification elements within the Audubon Certified Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

    • The Environmental Case Study project created a drought tolerant wildlife area filled with native plants from a large area of turf near the #10 tee that was not in play.
    • Wildlife and Habitat Management required implementing “no spray zones,” taking extensive bird inventories and setting up nest boxes for songbirds, which Monica built by hand.
    • Wolf Creek’s projects for Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation and Water Quality Management began the process of safeguarding the ecological integrity of the community’s terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

    Taking its place among a legacy of 647 Sanctuary courses the world over, Wolf Creek’s distinctive 18-hole PGA golf course is a 7,000 yard course on two distinct nines that features 17 acres of natural plant communities, protected watershed areas and over 5 acres of gardens maintained for the sole purpose of providing a food source for wildlife. The front nine openly roams out to a point overlooking Pineview Reservoir and the Ogden Valley, and the back nine meanders through groves of oak.

    In keeping with Wolf Creek Resort’s Mission of providing healthy family fun, Wolf Creek Resort & Club is dedicated to preserving the health and environmental quality of its resort community. Situated in an unspoiled valley without a single traffic light, Wolf Creek Resort & Club leads the state in environmental stewardship and responsible development.