Ski Slopes vs. Wilderness: New Hampshire Forest Faces Lift Plans
Published Date: 5/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The White Mountain National Forest is reviewing big plans from Waterville Valley Resort to add new ski lifts, trails, and facilities, plus a new parking lot. These changes could affect the local environment and how the forest is managed. The review will help decide if and how these projects move forward, impacting visitors and the community in the coming years.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
EIS launched for resort expansion
The White Mountain National Forest is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential significant environmental effects of Waterville Valley Resort's projects identified in its 2020 Master Development Plan. The proposed projects include a village-to-summit lift system, new traditional and gladed ski terrain, on-mountain facilities, new snowmaking infrastructure, and a new parking lot; the review will help decide if and how these projects move forward and may affect visitors and the community in the coming years.
Forest Plan changes for resort permit
The proposal includes amendments to the 2005 Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) to permit expansion of Waterville Valley Resort’s existing special use permit (SUP) boundary and to remove the applicability of Forest-wide Canada Lynx Standard S-3, consistent with the National Forest Management Act. These Forest Plan amendments are part of the action the EIS will analyze (Project ID 67459).
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Key Dates
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