When Mount Hood Meadows Oregon, Ltd., the operator of the ski area, proposed a new Master Plan in March 1988, the proposal was viewed with alarm by many people. In addition to new chair lifts and facilities, the proposal included

• the development of over 1500 units of overnight accommodation,
• a mountain restaurant near the Timberline trail,
• extensive summer use,
• an expansion of the permit area into the White River drainage.

In 1991 the Forest Service approved a Master Plan for the ski area that incorporated many of the elements proposed by Mount Hood Meadows. This was followed by an appeal of the decision to the Regional Forester by Friends of Mount Hood and other environmental groups. The appeal was successful.

1997 Master Plan

However, the Forest Service approved a revised Master Plan in 1997 that again caused alarm among environmental groups interested in the protection of the environment within the ski area. This plan authorized

• a large increase in usage for both day and night skiing,
• new chair lifts and runs,
• a mountain restaurant capable of serving 1000 people at a time,
• summer usage including overnight lodging for ski camps,
• expansion of parking into yet more sensitive riparian areas,
• a 96 acre addition to the permit area in the Hood River Meadows region.

The Clean Water Act claims were settled in February 2000 with a federal court Consent Order. In that settlement Mount Hood Meadows agreed to undertake some wetland restoration to help compensate for their past destructive activities and to be bound to a more rigorous process for determining wetland impacts before conducting any further construction activities.

As part of the CWA settlement, before proceeding with any wetland restoration, Mount Hood Meadows must consult with a wetlands specialist named by Friends of Mount Hood. For this purpose, we have selected Dr. David Cooper, a specialist in alpine ecology and wetlands restoration at Colorado State University.

Additional information on the continuing litigation relating to the 1997 Master Plan for the Meadows Ski Area can be found at  Litigation Summary  and  Lift 21.

Cooper Spur

In the summer of 2001, Meadows North, LCC, an affiliate of Mt. Hood Meadows, purchased the lease for the Cooper Spur Ski Area. This small family oriented ski area is located on land in the Mt. Hood National Forest on the northeast slope of Mt. Hood. With the change in ownership of the ski area, Friends of Mount Hood is closely monitoring proposals submitted to the Forest Service by the new management for expansion projects at the ski area.

For additional information on the recent issues related to the northeast slope of Mt. Hood, go to  Cooper Spur issues.

Super halfpipe

During the summer of 2003 the District Ranger of the Mount Hood Ranger District approved the construction of an in-ground super halfpipe adjacent to the Easy Rider chairlift at the Meadows Ski Area. Extensive excavation of soil was required to construct the approximately 500 ft. long, 15 ft. deep trench to form the halfpipe.

While the proposal was under consideration by the Forest Service, Friends of Mount Hood raised objections to the project in a letter to the Forest Service, and during two field trips to the proposed construction site. We argued that prior to making a decision, the Forest Service should conduct an Environmental Assessment since the project would affect the drainage pattern above wetlands and possibly cause extensive soil erosion. However, the project was approved using a process referred to as a Categorical Exclusion. The consequence was that no Environmental Assessment was required, and the decision was not subject to an appeal to the Forest Service.

The photo of the super pipe was taken in the fall of 2003 before snow had fallen. The matting that covers the bottom and sides of the trench is for erosion control. During the summer this "super trench" is a "super eyesore" visible from the main parking lot and from the nearby section of the Timberline Trail.

Summer 2004

The construction of Lift 21 (now called Vista Express) occurred during the summer of 2004. Friends of Mount Hood expressed concern about the impact on the fragile ecosystem of the high alpine region that would be opened to skiiers and snowboarders by the new lift. We were joined by three environmental groups in two appeals of the project. For more information see   Lift 21.

Also in 2004, Meadows received permission from the Forest Service to regrade the terrain in the meadow around the Buttercup chairlift. Approximately 17,500 cubic yards of soil from the "island" in the main parking lot were deposited on the meadow. This was another project that was aproved using a Categorical Exclusion; thus, no Environment Assessment was required, and there was no opportunity to appeal the decision.

In late June and early July during the summer of 2004, the meadow near the Buttercup chairlift was covered with bright yellow buttercups in full bloom. One wonders if this beautiful scene will ever occur again!

Numerous photographs of the region have been taken by Kate McCarthy during the past 30 years. Some of these pictures are of beautiful meadows, clear flowing streams, undisturbed wetlands, and alpine vegetation; however, other pictures dramatically illustrate the damage done to the mountain by the ski area. A sample of Kate's photographs can be viewed by clicking on   Photos.

The following list provides links to recent newsletters:

• November, 2006
• December, 2005
• November, 2004
• December, 2003
• December, 2002
• June, 2002

FOMH Board members: Karl Anuta, Dennis Chaney, Lou Daily, Helen Herner, Phyllis Kirk, Jack Grauer, Kate McCarthy, Chris Winter, John Wood.
Chairperson: Barbara Wilson, wilsonbn@comcast.net