Forest Service Releases Decisions for Two Projects in Summit County

Release Date: Aug 12, 2019

SILVERTHORNE, Colo., August 12, 2019– The White River National Forest released the final Decision Notice for the Copper Mountain Snowmaking and Summer Uses Environmental Analysis and a Decision Memo for the Frisco Nordic Center Trails project in late June 2019.  These projects are focused on improving year-round recreational amenities within existing special use permit areas for Copper Mountain Resort and Frisco Nordic Center respectively.

The Decision Notice for the Copper Mountain Resort’s (CMR) Snowmaking and Summer Uses project authorizes 73.4 acres of additional snowmaking, construction of approximately 35 miles of summer trails for hiking and mountain biking, summer camping improvements near the bottom terminals of the Rendezvous and Sierra chairlifts and the extension of the existing “A-1” mountain access road to provide access to CMR’s “Olie Lind” parcel in Spaulding Bowl. In addition, this Decision requires the development of a stream management plan for Wheeler Gulch and authorizes a drainage system to ensure the stream can sustainably accommodate the additional runoff from increased snowmaking. 

The Decision Memo for the Frisco Nordic Center Trails project authorizes the construction of approximately 4 miles of Nordic skiing trails, 9 miles of mixed-use (hiking and mountain biking) summer trails, and 3.75 miles of improvements to existing trails within the special use permit area on the Frisco Peninsula. 

Implementation of both projects is underway; for more information please call Forest Service project manager Sam Massman at (970) 262-3484 or visit the project webpages listed below.

Copper Mountain Snowmaking and Summer Uses: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=54909

Frisco Nordic Center Trails: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55904

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