The U.S. Forest Service has released its environmental assessment draft decision notice for Purgatory Resort’s Ice Creek development, paving the way for a new lift and four new ski trails for beginners.
The project, which was initially proposed in 2008 as part of a wide-ranging improvement plan, would remove about 26 acres of trees on the back side of Purgatory Resort in the East Fork Hermosa Creek watershed to create a new 3,400-foot-long quad lift and 45 acres of ski terrain. The development will also include access improvements for snowmobiles to limit the potential for ski-snowmobile incidents.
In its June 2020 Notice of Proposed Action, Purgatory Resort noted that warming temperatures and guest demand for more beginner terrain were driving the project.
“The idea is we start to move our beginner experience up on the mountain,” said Dave Rathbun, Purgatory Resort’s general manager.
“We have some spectacular first-timer terrain right at the top of Lift 4, and then from there once you’ve learned how to ski and snowboard, the progression would be a little bit more challenging, a little bit longer trails that would be part of the Ice Creek development,” Rathbun said.
In the draft decision, the Forest Service responded to comments it had received during the environmental assessment process, said Jed Botsford, recreation staff officer for the Columbine Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest.
The draft decision noted concerns about the impacts the project would have on Colorado River cutthroat trout, Canada lynx and the East Fork Hermosa Creek watershed.
“There’s a number of measures in place to protect the streams,” said Noel Ludwig, a hydrologist for the Forest Service and the project manager. “There’ll be people on-site from the Forest Service monitoring and making sure that they adhere to that.”
The local environmental group San Juan Citizens Alliance has voiced concerns about the effects that tree removal and climate change will have on Canada lynx habitat. The group has argued there are other developed spaces within Purgatory Resort where a new lift and trails could go.
Gary Skiba, the wildlife manager for San Juan Citizens Alliance, said the development of Ice Creek could also increase competition between Canada lynx and coyotes for food.
“The issue with snowmobile trails in lynx habitat is that they give access to coyotes,” Skiba said.
Ludwig said the environmental assessment determined the Ice Creek Project would remove less than 0.1% of suitable lynx habitat.
“What actually came out to be the biggest concern among the biologists was additional traffic on the highway from people coming into the ski area,” Ludwig said.
According to the draft decision, the Forest Service found enough protective measures and checks in place to ensure the development will not significantly degrade the surrounding environment.
“The project will not result in any unacceptable effects to National Forest System lands,” the decision read.
Those who previously commented on the environmental assessment last spring have 45 days to object to the decision. The 45-day window ends Dec. 11.
If objections are submitted, the Forest Service will review those objections, formulate a response and then determine if the environmental assessment needs to be altered in any way, Ludwig said.
If there are no objections, the Forest Service will sign the final document at the end of January.
Ludwig said Purgatory Resort must then submit a construction plan before work can begin.
The goal is for tree removal to start after the season ends.
“When we approve new trails or new lift lines, (resorts) like to get out as soon as the ski area closes, sometimes the day after,” Ludwig said.
“If they’re going to do logging, we’d like them to do that over the snow to reduce the amount of ground that gets torn up,” Ludwig said.
ahannon@durangoherald.com
