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File Code: |
1950/2720 |
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Date: |
April 8, 2005 |
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Dear People Interested in
I am writing you this scoping letter to solicit your
thoughts and comments on a proposed development at Mt. Hood Meadows this
summer. After one of the worst winter
droughts in
Snowmaking was never envisioned in the past and was not
included in the thinking behind the area’s Master Development Plan. However, I feel that the addition of such a
system is an operational change that does not affect the capacity of the permit
area, skier patterns or building development other than a storage tank and pump
house. Snowmaking is consistent with the
operations of many other ski areas on National Forest System lands including
resorts in
Below you will find narratives about the proposal. An attached map displays the details of the proposal.
Ø
New water rights must be obtained from the State
of
Ø
Water rights for 1.1 cubic feet per second (cfs)
diverted from the
Ø The water diversion would be at the upper end of the existing culvert that goes under the sewage treatment plant road. Although no fish are present in this reach of the stream, a screen and design feature will keep animals, rocks and debris from being drawn up.
Ø
The proposed system includes a 1 million gallon
steel water storage tank. Two potential sites
are drawn on the map. Site A would be
located in a spot along the same road, about 300 ft. from the diversion. This site would be used if new water rights
for the river are secured. Site B,
closer to the well on
Ø A small electric pump at the creek would feed water to the storage tank where a larger electric pump would send the water through a system of welded steel pipe at high pressure (minimum of 150 pounds per square inch pressure needed).
Ø
Water would also be diverted from the existing
domestic system at the top of Reservoir Hill, and from the new well located
along the
Ø An amended water right, adjusting the season of use of the .5 cfs water right from the existing new well has also been applied for. The requested dates are also November 1 through March 31.
Ø The water pipes would deliver water to the whole system in pipes buried 4 feet deep. The trenching for the pipe would occur in previously disturbed areas like service roads, ditches and ski trails. No trees would be cut. No wetlands are involved, and no significant riparian areas would be entered by the trenching. There would be about 14,000 linear feet of buried pipe.
Ø No chemical or organic additives would be used as additives to the water for snowmaking at this time. If the permittee wishes to propose that in the future, a new environmental review would need to be conducted for that proposal.
Ø The system would be somewhat complicated to a lay person with water from three sources going to tank, but simply put: snow would be made only when the temperatures are cold enough, and when the storage tank is full. Scientifically, snow can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if the temperatures are cold, but the water supply is a limiting factor – the snow guns would be shutdown when the tank is drained so more diverted water can refill it. If/when the flow of the stream drops below 1.5 cfs, the diversion pump switches off.
Ø The permittee plans to purchase 10-15 electric fan snowmaking guns initially. They can be moved around to different locations where hydrants from the pipeline are located. The guns are very quiet and, at other ski areas, do not bother skiers with noise when they are running.
Ø The proposed system would have the ability to cover about 31.5 acres with snow.
Ø The project is expected to result in 4.3 acres of disturbed soil. On areas where soil disturbance occurs erosion control measures will be implemented to minimize the potential for soil erosion. Approval of the project design and notice to proceed will not be provided until review and approval of the erosion control work has been completed by a Soil Scientist and Hydrologist.
Based on preliminary review, this project appears to fit
within the criteria for categorical exclusion (CE) from documentation in an
Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). In order to allow the permittee adequate time
to prepare for work in the summer in the event that this proposal is approved I
must reach a decision on this proposal in early June 2005. I would like to receive any comments or
thoughts you have about this proposal by April 26, 2005, including
specific comments between the alternative tank locations.
Although there is not a formal public review process with CE’s, prior to making my final decision, I will make a draft Decision Memo and analysis file available to anyone who would like to review it and make comments. This will allow for more public involvement. If you send us comments, please note whether you also want to receive the draft document.
Please direct your comments to Project Manager Doug Jones at this office or via dgjones@fs.fed.us. You certainly can contact him prior to April 26th if you have any questions about the project. If Doug does not acknowledge your email within 2-3 work days, please call his extension #682 as we may be having problems with our firewalls and internet gateway. During the week of April 18-22, he will be away at training and only able to access his voicemail for messages.
Sincerely,
/S/
DAINA L. BAMBE
District Ranger
Proposed Snowmaking System April 2005