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CLEAR Temp: 64 °F Wind: SSW at 3 mph Friday, September 20, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 16, 2002 Ski area coalition tries out new plan Skiers and Headwaters draft an alternative to show at forums this week By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune ASHLAND — A draft alternative to the Mount Ashland Association’s proposed expansion of the Mount Ashland ski area will make a run down the slopes of public opinion this week. Put together by a group of longtime ski area users and members of the Headwaters environmental group, the draft will be offered for review at three public forums beginning Tuesday. The first will start at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Bellview Grange Hall, 1050 Tolman Creek Road, Ashland. The second session will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Bellview Grange Hall. The final forum begins at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Headwaters office, 84 Fourth St., Ashland. The alternative is the result of meetings that began this spring between the group of ski area users and the environmental activists who have opposed the association’s expansion plans. Earlier this year, the association took another run at its long campaign to expand the community-owned facility by submitting a revised expansion plan to the Forest Service. That revision dropped some controversial proposals that were included in the group’s 1998 plan but continued to push for the western expansion that has drawn opposition from environmental activists. The goal of the alternative to be discussed this week was to create a proposal that would significantly improve the ability of the ski area to serve the community while avoiding development in the controversial Middle Fork area of the Ashland Creek watershed, explained Tonya Graham, Headwaters’ executive director. "When Headwaters was approached by this group of users, we immediately recognized that this would be a great opportunity to move beyond the polarization this controversy has created in our community," she said. "We want people to get outside and experience nature, but we want to see that experience handled responsibly with as little impact as possible," she added. "This proposal strikes a balance that recognizes the need to protect our clean water and the desire to improve the recreational opportunities for the people of our community." The main points of what is being called the Community Alternative Mount Ashland Improvement Proposal include: Support for significant terrain alterations as outlined in the Mount Ashland Association’s proposal, including widening most of the run, and installation of the Poma chairlift and Snow Tubing Facility. Upgraded guest services, including extensive lodge remodeling, new ticket booths, and a yurt at the tubing facility. Lengthening the Dream and Caliban runs to create longer intermediate level runs. Installing the new Dream Ridge chairlift to provide direct access to the intermediate level areas of the Dream and Caliban runs as well as access to wilderness backcountry skiing in the Middle Branch area. Permanently designating the Middle Branch area as a Wilderness Backcountry Skiing area via a contract between the Mount Ashland Association and the City of Ashland. Creating a permanent restoration fund to cover costs of monitoring and mediating environmental effects caused by development and maintenance of the ski area. Providing shuttle transportation from the base of the mountain to the ski area to reduce congestion in the parking lot and on the access road. The draft proposal is being offered to the association, the Ashland City Council and Rogue River National Forest officials. During each forum, a brief presentation will be made, followed by a question and answer session. Surveys will then be distributed to gather input from the public. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S