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Speakers rip Ski Ashland plan Expansion would hurt rare plants, wetlands, they say at forum By PAUL FATTIG ASHLAND -- A proposal to expand the Mount Ashland ski area deals in big numbers -- a 350-acre expansion that would nearly double the size of the ski hill. But people who spoke at a "Thinking Like a Mountain" forum Wednesday night talked in smaller terms about rare plants and wetlands. The forum, which addressed a proposal to expand Ski Ashland, drew a standing-room-only crowd of more than 150 people, including a number wearing green arm bands signifying their opposition to the expansion plans. At issue is a Mount Ashland Association proposal calling for a 350-acre expansion inside the McDonald Peak roadless area of the Rogue River National Forest. Plans call for about 80 acres to be clearcut, including a portion of the only Engelmann spruce stand found in the Siskiyou Mountains. Before beginning the meeting, which drew a long list of speakers, facilitator Jeff Golden cautioned participants to stick to the issues. The forum was organized by the Ashland-based Headwaters environmental group. "Headwaters is still officially neutral on this project," said Robert Lonsdorf, the coalition's representative. "But we're asking a lot of tough questions," he said. "... we support the decision being made using the best science possible and the highest ethical considerations." The group's neutrality stance will likely continue until the draft supplemental environmental impact statement is released, he added. That statement, intended to add current information to the 1991 EIS, will be released in July instead of June as earlier announced, said Linda Duffy, ranger for Ashland Ranger District. The delay is to allow the document to be first reviewed at the regional level in Portland, she said. A 45-day comment period will follow that release. The ski area's proposal includes environmental precautions, said Jeff Hanson, assistant general manager of Ski Ashland. But not enough to merit the expansion, according to several environmental activists. They are concerned that the expansion will cause problems for the mountain's wetlands, for rare plants found on its slopes and for the watershed that flows into the city of Ashland's water reservoir. Frank Lang, Southern Oregon University biology professor emeritus, said he wasn't opposed to the proposal providing it didn't harm the Engelmann spruce stand, which consists of a little more than 1,700 trees. Although Engelmann spruce are not rare since they range north to British Columbia, it is rare to find them this far south, he explained. "My own personal feeling is that Mount Ashland has always been pretty much altered," he said. "If we want to continue to alter every part of it except the Engelmann spruce, I don't have any real objections." Steve Jessup, an SOU biology professor and a member of the Oregon Native Plant Society, was concerned about the impact the planned expansion would have on rare plants like the Mount Ashland lupine found on the mountain. "The Native Plant Society has come to the position that everything possible to avoid impacting these species should be done," he said, later adding the society is also opposed to having any of the Engelmann spruce cut. Glenn Menzie, general manager of Ski Ashland, noted that rare plants have existed on the mountain's ski runs for 35 years. The planned expansion would cut the small ribbon of connectivity for plants and animals between the Siskiyou and the Cascade ranges, warned Wendell Wood, representing the Oregon Natural Resources Council. Eric Navickas, representing Ashland Creek First, spoke out against the planned expansion. "We can stand for no further development into roadless areas and pristine wilderness areas," he said, drawing cheers from the crowd. The majority of the comments Wednesday night were in opposition to the plan. But written comments from the public to the Forest Service have been overwhelmingly in support. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA