Decision on TSV gondola project delayed again
Taos Land Trust seeks to renew conservation easement discussion
A decision on the “Taos Ski Valley Gondola and Other Improvements” project has been delayed again.
Last week, the Taos Mountain Alliance informed subscribers to its email list that the Carson National Forest had delayed a decision on the project until October, although a spokesperson for the forest anticipated it will be announced sooner than the fall.
The Carson National Forest told Taos News it doesn’t anticipate a final draft decision regarding Taos Ski Valley Inc.’s updated master plan until “later this summer.” The plan includes a roster of controversial projects TSVI wants to accomplish over the next 10 years, including the 7,300-foot gondola that would connect the Frontside base area to the Kachina Base area year round, two upgraded ski lifts and a 5 million gallon water storage tank, among other items.
“Forest staff continue to work through the environmental analysis phase of the proposal,” Zach Behrens, public affairs officer for the forest, told the Taos News.
Hundreds of community members — many of them winter pass holders or downstream water users along the Rio Hondo that flows through the ski valley — have called repeatedly for the U.S. Forest Service to complete a full environmental impact statement on the project rather than the less-comprehensive environmental assessment that was undertaken.
“We are optimistic that these delays are a result of the overwhelming public feedback indicating that the process was happening too fast and without adequate assessment,” Taos Mountain Alliance said in the email. It also indicated Taos Land Trust is interested in restarting a lapsed discussion with the ski resort about enacting a conservation easement on a tract of land it now owns, through which the lower segment of the Williams Lake Trail historically ran.
Backcountry skiers have long used the original trail for off-piste access, but the ski resort and the Carson National Forest established a new alignment for the trail that isn’t as friendly to skiers.
Darien Fernandez, a Town of Taos councilor and the executive director of Taos Land Trust, told Taos News he’s asked TSVI owner Louis Bacon’s people if there’s interest to pick up the conversation easement discussion again. Bacon’s Taos Holdings company owns the land in question.
“It’s definitely a priority of mine and would be a win for everyone, as it would protect the headwaters of the Rio Hondo from potential development, it could resolve the access issue, and it is in line with the B Corp ethos of conservation,” Fernandez said. “We’re looking to schedule a meeting later this month. We haven’t signed a new engagement letter yet, though, which is the first step in formally restarting the process.”