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on?j(3 SUMMARY WOLF CREEK VALLEY SKI AREA REVISED DRAFT ENVIRONMENI'AL IMPACI' STATEMENI' This sLmmary of the Revised Draft Environmental Impact statal1ent (RDEIS) discloses the projected environmental consequences of developing a new alpine ski area southwest of Wolf Creek Pass at a site known as Windy Pass. The proposed development is within the San Juan National Forest, and the site is designated Management Area IB in the Forest r s Land and Resource Managal1ent Plan. This designation allows for further study for potential develorroent of downhill skiing by the private sector. The proposed ski area is part of an overall year-round resort to be developed by vlestfork Investment, Ltd. The total developnE!nt involves both private land and public U.S.F.S. land. There are 2,365 acres of Forest Service land involved in the ski area proposal which has approximately 3000 vertical feet for skiing on 904 acres of groomed trails which would accommodate 11,750 skiers-at-one-time. The site is located in Mineral County and is 12 miles northeast of pagosa Springs, Colorado, the county seat of Archuleta County. Maps 1 and 2 in Chapter I of the Revised DEIS graphically illustrate the location of the proposed developnent. IURPOSE AND NRP.I1 Westfork Investment, Ltd. submitted an application to the Forest Service on January 30, 1984 for a Special Use Permit to develop the proposed ski area. The Regional Forester authorized this study of the proposal on April 5, 1984. The proposal also requires approval by the Colorado state Highway Department and the Federal Highway Administration to relocate about one mile of U.S. Highway 160 to the west. The highway relocation (about 550 feet west of the existing alignment) will allow adequate land for the ski area base and will avoid potential hazards resulting from crowding of skier base facilities. The environmental analysis of the proposed realignment is it~orr~rated and documented below. other resort developnent on the 2,564 acres of private land required approval by Mineral County Board of County Commissioners. The ski area is proposed to be developed in phases, each phase representing a three to five year construction period. l>I.arket demand will be the primary factor dictating the timing and length of each phase. The first phase development will accommodate 4,050 skiers-at-one-time. The total resort developnent is planned to span over 20 years and to occur in three major phases. ALTERNATIVES INCLUDI~ THE PROPOSED ACTION The Revised DEIS analyzes three alternatives. Five additional alternatives were considered but rejected from detailed analysis. Each of these alternatives had certain physical and/or economic costs that retrlered than impractical or unattractive for developnent. iii