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Winema officials voice optimism over ski plan By BETH QUINN The only man who can green-light the proposed $37 million Pelican Butte ski resort expressed confidence Monday night that endangered birds and skiers can coexist. Winema National Forest Supervisor Bob Castenada said the detailed analysis that went into a 970-page, 5.4-pound draft environmental impact statement overcame his initial skepticism about Jeld-Wen Inc.'s plans for a site 27 miles north of Klamath Falls. "In the end we were able to come up with an alternative that fits on the mountain," he said. "I think we can make the change in the use of the land and still meet the overall objectives of the late successional reserve, the eagle habitat and the owl habitat.'' Castenada and other Winema forest officials explained their preferred alternative for resort development in a four-hour open house at Medford's Doubletree Inn that drew more than 60 local residents. Those in attendance heard a formal overview of the project before tossing out questions and comments in an informal session. Forest managers acknowledged that the resort could displace an endangered bald eagle pair from an active nest less than a mile from the 2,135-car parking lot. But they said eagles more tolerant of nearby humans would likely move in to the territory adjacent to the Klamath marsh. "We fully expect another pair to occupy that site or one nearby because it is such a rich area," said Klamath District Ranger Rob Shull, a wildlife biologist. To minimize conflicts between humans and birds, the resort would use a six- or eight-person gondola to hoist skiers to a mid-mountain lodge 6,400 feet up the mountain from which eight other lifts would rise. "The purpose of that is to bring skiers over that key habitat and focus their activities for the day from the mid-mountain," said Don Hoffheins, project coordinator for the Winema forest. And while 5 percent of Mount Ashland's skiers might desert Jackson County's publicly owned ski area in the first four years, that short-term pain would be offset by long-term gain. "They become part of a larger regional draw," said Jim Owens, a Portland consultant hired by the forest to write the Pelican Butte draft environmental impact statement. Numerous questions from the audience focused on impacts to water quality by the resort's sewage system, with concerns about endangered fish in Upper Klamath Lake and private wells belonging to downhill residents. Forest officials said the Pelican Butte septic system would have to meet state Department of Environmental Quality requirements. Others wanted assurances that taxpayers wouldn't be left with the bills if the resort failed. Forest officials said developers would be required to post a bond for enough money to remove all facilities and rehabilitate the mountain. One woman expressed the sentiments of many who fear the ski resort would forever change rural Klamath County. "Even if you don't care about owls and eagles, it's going to change the atmosphere over there," she said. "I don't want to live in Bend." About 209 written comments on the plans have been received so far -- most in favor -- but Winema forest officials expect to get thousands more before the Feb. 26 deadline. "I really do want to hear your comments to help me decide what to do with this project," Castenada said. "Now it's up to the public to tell me what they think is the right thing to do out there." (Comments on Pelican Butte should go to Forest Supervisor Robert Castenada, Winema National Forest, 2819 Dahlia St., Klamath Falls, OR 97601. Or via the Web at www.fs.fed.us/r6/winema ) Resort would boast 54 trails, nine lifts Here's how the proposed Pelican Butte ski resort shapes up in the Winema forest's recently released analysis: ALPINE SKIERS would enjoy a new resort featuring 54 trails, nine lifts (including a gondola), a 900-seat mid-mountain lodge and 200-seat mountain-top restaurant to be built in two phases over 10 years. Peak daily capacity would be 6,000 skiers -- second only to Mount Bachelor's 12,500 daily skiers -- with parking for 2,135 cars and 25 buses on 16 acres off Westside Road. OUT OF TOWNERS would account for 70 percent of visiting skiers by 2020, with up to 70 percent staying at Jeld Wen Inc.'s Running Y Resort on Highway 140 north of Klamath Falls. Planners expect 35 percent of skiers to arrive by plane, mostly from the San Francisco Bay area, bringing an additional 2,400 passengers through the Klamath Falls airport on peak days. ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS include a $37 million construction cost and 1,347 full- and part-time employees by 2020. Full-timers could expect average annual earnings of $32,600, while seasonal workers would earn an annualized $18,000. Jeld Wen Inc. expects Pelican Butte to earn $44 million annually by 2020 and generate yearly tax payments of $579,385 from county taxes on lodging and resort improvements such as ski lifts and lodges, and from the Winema forest's special-use permit fee. ROAD IMPROVEMENTS required by the new resort, mostly to mitigate congestion, would cost $6 million and widen road shoulders, redo at least one interchange and install turning lanes. WILDLIFE LOSSES could include one nesting area for a northern spotted owl pair, one nesting territory for a bald eagle pair and one winter roost for a bald eagle pair. The new resort would include 3.1 percent of a 101,600-acre late successional reserve created by the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan to protect old-growth species. SOUTHERN OREGON'S ski industry has defied national trends, growing 40 percent in 20 years as the region's population burgeoned. Industry analysts predict a 3 percent growth rate in coming years while nationally the sport levels off at 50 to 60 million skier visits per year. With the 1997 termination of an Umpqua National Forest permit for ski development analysis of Mount Bailey, Pelican Butte and Mount Ashland expansion remain the only new or expanded resorts in development. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA