Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion Essay -- Environmental Issues

Its a sunny October afternoon and Im listen to the breeze gently rustle the tree tops above me. I look down into the creek as I sit present munching on some cashews, and I see trout gliding effortlessly through and through the crystal- invite water. I revel in how incredibly lush the area isalthough its been a dry summer the ground is still moist, plants are scintillating and colorful, and wildlife is abound. After I finish my snack and tuck my trash out into my backpack, I continue my hike up this parcel of land that may soon become barren with towers of steel and wire draping the landscapethats if the Mt. Ashland Association (MAA), a non-profit organization that operates the Mt. Ashland ski area, gets their expression. The MAA is looking to start a planned expansion of the area in late 2012. They plan to clear cut 70+ acres of old growth to pave way for more advanced slopes and a sparkly-new lodge.According to the Environmental Protection dominance (EPA), ski area expa nsions are the most ecological damaging chore that an area can undertake. In a plan revision for the white River National Forest in Colorado, regarding the Copper Mountain Ski fixing expansion, the EPA hammers that point home when they say that no new(prenominal) land prudence prescription on the Forest directly results in more stream-water depletion, wetland impacts, send pollution, immutable vegetation change, or permanent habitat loss more wetland impacts and stream depletions resulted from ski area expansion and improvement than from all other Forest management activities combined, including many direct and indirect impacts that are permanent (irreversible and irretrievable). Meanwhile, skier numbers nationally have only increased just two percent since 1978 says, (source). Whic... ...D On Environmental Scorecard. Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland, OR, 26 Nov. 2008, n. pag. Web. 23 Feb. 2012. Saving the Pacific Fisher. Center for Biological Diversity. Center for Biologica l Diversity., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2012. United States. Dept. of Agriculture. Tenmile Recreation Path Environmental Assessment. Summit County, Colorado. U.S. Forest Service, Dillion Ranger rule 2011 Web. 24 Feb. 2012. Wright, Bruce. A Question of Balance. Ashland Resource Center Ashland, OR, 7 Sept. 2011, n. pag. Web. 24 Feb. 2012.