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Court Ruling No 'Death Knell' For Ashland Growth

By Craig Altschul
October 04, 2007

Clark said the court's ruling "pointed out two deficiencies in the EIS" filed by Mt. Ashland: the lack of a study on the Pacific fisher, a weasel-like animal that has been seen in the area, and the need to clarify the potential problems to the riparian reserve and watershed. Both of those items fall into the realm of the Forest Service.

"The court supported our other work," Clark said. Giesin said it looks like it's time for the Forest Service to get its act together.

"The way we understand it," Clark says, "is the 9th Circuit Court remanded it back to district court in Oregon to have these issues resolved. The Forest Service needs to correct these issues." Giesin said Ashland officials believe a resolution is possible "in the next six to 12 months, if not sooner."

Here's what it means: Ashland, a resort noted for its advanced skiing and snowboard terrain, wants a bigger share of the market. The ski area will be able to attract lower-level skiers and boarders, who generally bypass Ashland in favor of more friendly terrain at Mt. Shasta to the south and Willamette Pass to the north. The plan calls for the addition of two new lifts and 16 runs spread out over the 70-acre expansion parcel, which is in Ashland's permit area.

Giesin notes there is also an "ironic touch." The suit that was filed by conservationists to stop the expansion also prevented the ski area staff from performing summertime watershed restoration on the mountain. Clark said area officials will be "sitting down in discourse with the plaintiffs to see if we can go forward with some of the projects." The local conservationists apparently are willing to talk.

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