Snowbird expansion water sample results meeting quality standards

Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort has overcome a hurdle in its attempt to construct lifts on its private property at Mary Ellen Gulch.
Snowbird was approved for a conditional use permit to build two lifts and a zipline tour in Upper Mary Ellen Gulch and realign its Mineral Basin chairlift.

Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort has overcome a hurdle in its attempt to construct lifts on its private property at Mary Ellen Gulch.
Snowbird was approved for a conditional use permit to build two lifts and a zipline tour in Upper Mary Ellen Gulch and realign its Mineral Basin chairlift. The approval came from the Utah County Board of Adjustment in April, but it came with the condition that water sampling be conducted in the area.

The resort said recently that water samples collected since April in the gulch, in upper American Fork Canyon, indicate that all heavy metal standards to protect drinking water are met. The sampling was conducted by a third-party contractor, observed by American Fork City.

Overall, in accordance with the state-assigned water quality standards to protect fish and other aquatic organisms, results of the first quarter of sampling show negligible water quality impacts to American Fork River from Mary Ellen Gulch, the resort said. With the exception of zinc, all metal results meet state-assigned standards, except for three locations on two of the sampling dates recorded in the upper portion of Mary Ellen Gulch. However, all aquatic standards are met above the confluence with American Fork River and all standards were met at all sampling locations in June.

“Although American Fork River isn’t classified as a drinking water source, we are pleased that these stringent standards are met and that the initial test results show no harmful impacts to aquatic wildlife and downstream users before Mary Ellen Gulch reaches American Fork River,” said Bob Bonar, Snowbird’s president. “What we’re seeing from the initial tests is consistent with prior samples collected in the area, and we will continue to look for opportunities to partner with agencies and organizations to positively impact water quality in upper American Fork Canyon.”

As a condition for building the two lifts, Snowbird will continue to sample water quality for two years prior to and during construction, and will continue for a total of 10 years from the time of approval to ensure no degradation in water quality occurs due to the change in use.
Snowbird also recently announced the establishment of the Mary Ellen Resource Interest Taskforce (MERIT), an effort by the resort to proactively engage key stakeholders, including various governmental agencies, outdoor user groups, recreational interests, land and environmental conservation and advocacy groups, nearby cities, irrigation companies and Utah County.

“We are initiating MERIT to foster community outreach, share information and participate in productive conversations about resource use, access and water quality,” said Hilary Arens, Snowbird’s director of water resources and environmental programs.

Snowbird already has met with American Fork City; Utah County; the Utah Division of Water Quality; Trout Unlimited; the National Forest Foundation; the Utah Division of Oil, Gas & Mining; local irrigators and the Utah Snowmobile Association.

“By engaging with these user groups, agencies and experts, we are sharing information, getting feedback, and gaining a better understanding of the uses, impacts and environmental condition of upper American Fork Canyon,” said Arens. “We are actively discussing opportunities to partner with these organizations to continue the recreational opportunities and improve water quality in this area, and will continue meeting with these key stakeholders.”

Regarding the gulch situation, Snowbird has said it will not create a connection to Tibble Fork Reservoir or other areas below the project area, thereby creating no access to the resort from American Fork Canyon; will not build hotels or condominiums in the canyon; will not have any Mountain Accord land exchange in Utah County; will work with American Fork Canyon stakeholders such as off-road user groups to plan and coordinate sustainable access to Snowbird’s private property in American Fork Canyon; and is allowing continued summertime access to its Miller Hill property.

The resort has said that the private land in Upper Mary Ellen Gulch that would be used for skiing and snowboarding in the winter represents only 1.1 percent of the available lands for year-round recreation in American Fork Canyon.