Mail Tribune News -  Mount Ashland gets a �B�

Document text

Mount Ashland gets a �B� Group urges skiers to avoid low-scoring slopes From wire and staff reports The Mount Ashland ski area received a "B" grade from an environmental group that is urging skiers to avoid many of the West�s top resorts. In a report posted on its Web site Wednesday, the Ski Area Citizens Coalition ranked most resorts in nine states on 12 issues, including development on undisturbed land; altering terrain in areas such as wetlands, old-growth forests and roadless property; water and wildlife. The coalition also asked skiers to send e-mails prodding resorts to be more sensitive to the environment. Four of the categories concerned expansion. The coalition said expansion at one area pressures others to expand "to retain their market share and/or lure the limited number of skiers from other resorts." Areas planning to expand snowmaking were penalized. Environmentalists say reducing streamflows can hurt aquatic life. Resorts were awarded points for protecting wildlife habitat, reducing auto pollution and recycling. Mount Ashland received a 71 percent rating. It received 10 of 20 possible points in the area of "avoiding expansion" and zero of five possible points for protecting alpine wetlands. A proposed expansion of the ski area would include a bridge crossing over a wetlands area. The U.S. Forest Service is currently reviewing public comment on the expansion plans and has not issued a final decision. The Mount Bachelor ski area near Bend received a "C" grade, with a 50 percent rating. On the Net: The Ski Area Citizens Coalition: http://www.skiareacitizens.com   National Ski Areas Association: http://www.nsaa.org     Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.