Fall 2014 - Friends of Alta

E rni the Erm ine
Nov. 2014. Issue no.10. Biannual
We are pleased to introduce our new
furry friend, Erni the Ermine.
At $30 this local animal of Al ta
makes a great holiday gi ft for
kids and adul ts alike!
Purchase one today at
friendsofal ta.org/support/merchandise
Me mo r i a l T r e e P ro gra m
In September we planted 6
Memorial Trees in honor of:
Peter Abbal le
Mark B ernhard
Harry W B erkowi tz
Katie Kuhn
B renda Price
George Swick
If you would like to plant a
tree in memory of a loved
one, please contact us.
Gifts with Benefits
Local photographer John B lumenkamp of Teton Trail
Photography donates 50% of the net
proceeds from the online Albion B asin Gal lery
to FOA: john-blumenkamp.artistwebsi tes.com/art/
al l/albion+basin/al l
Alta Shuttle
2% of al l Al ta Shuttle services to/from the Town of
Al ta during the winter are donated to FOA.
Special thanks to Al ta Shuttle, Tom, the shuttle
drivers, and Al ta Shuttle’s patrons for supporting
FOA. Please visi t al tashuttle.com
T hank you
t o our
Summe r
Steward s hip
Eve nt
Par tne r s
Ruby O’ G r a d y- Ent wi s t l e, an A l t a S c h o o l
s t u d e nt h e lp s A l t a Env ir o nm e nt al C e nt e r
r eve g e t at e t h e b a s e ar e a wi t h nat i ve s p e c i e s
Stay Connected! Like us on Facebook and
sign up for our Photo of the Month Club and/or
Monthly Updates. Email info@friendsofal ta.org
Up c oming Eve nt s
L ove U t ah G ive U t ah
T hur s day, Mar c h 26t h, 2015
9 t h A nnu al A l t a G al a
Friday, A p ril 3r d, 2015
Sup p o r t in g F OA , AC E an d
t he A lt a His t o ric al S o c ie t y
Fr ie n d s o f A l t a
Re al E s t at e Ad vant a g e
Pr o gram
M e nt io n t hi s p r o gram t o
b r o ke r Jim William s an d he
will d o nate $1,0 0 0 t o F OA
f r o m hi s c o mmi s s io n wit h t he c l o s ur e of a r e al
e s t ate t ran s a c t io n. Ple a s e he lp F OA by s harin g
t his unique p r o gram an d it s b e ne f it s.
Board of Directors
Mimi Levitt; UT, President
Tim Hogen; CT, Vice President
Skip Silloway; UT, Treasurer & VP
Richard Thomas; UT, Secretary
Nicholas C Besobrasov; CA, UT
Peter Corroon; UT
Sheridan Davis; UT
Cassie Dippo; UT
John Holland; NY
Becky Holt; UT
Peg Kramer; PA, UT
Chris Mikell; UT
Bruce Shand; UT
Counsel
Patrick A. Shea
Advisory Committee
Albert Andrews, Jr.; MN
David Arnold III; MA
Brad Barber; SLC, UT
Jayne Belnap, PhD; UT
Gene Bliss, MD; UT
Skip Branch; UT
Laura McIndoe Briefer; UT
Margot & Fred Churchill; MA
Michael Goldstein, MD; MA
Shannon Gordon; WA
Jack Hoag; MA
Barbara Hoffman; NY
Austin Hoyt; MA
Felicity Forbes Hoyt; MA
Loren Kroenke; UT
Fay Michener; NY
Jeff Niermeyer; UT
Felix G Rohatyn; NY
Dick Schatten; CT
Elfriede Shane; UT
In Memoriam
Bill Levitt, 1917 – 2009
Friends of Alta
PO Box 8126
Alta, UT 84092
Jen Clancy, Executive Director
cell (801) 742-9719
jen@friendsofalta.org
The Mission of Friends of Alta is to protect the environment of Alta, including watershed
and wildlife habitat areas; to preserve Alta’s unique character and heritage; and to
encourage stewardship and sustainability of Alta’s environment and community.
www.friendsofalta.org
Cover Photo by John Frawley
Preserving the Nature of Alta
D e ar Frie n d s,
T he r e c e nt m o nt h s have b e e n ove r whe lmin g wit h c han ge s in t he Ut ah s k i
in du s t r y. M o unt ain Ac c o r d, O ne Wa s at c h, an d s k i ar e a c o n s o lidat io n s ar e
r o llin g al o n g at light nin g s p e e d. Vail n ow c o nt r o l s C anyo n s an d Park Cit y,
D e e r Valley b o ught S o lit ude, an d Ian Cummin g, fo rme r owne r of Park Cit y
M o unt ain Re s o r t, p ur c ha s e d a c o nt r o llin g inte r e s t in Sn owbir d. Pe r c he d a s
it is in t he C e nt ral Wa s at c h, A lt a’s c o mmunit y s it s in a p r e c ario u s p o s it io n
wit h r e gar d t o s k i an d t ran s it inte r c o nne c t s.
F OA s t af f an d B o ar d me mb e r s have b e e n e n ga ge d in t he M o unt ain Ac c o r d
p r o gram s in c e it s in c e pt io n. M o unt ain Ac c o r d is a r e gio nal p lannin g e f fo r t
t o a d dr e s s t he t ran s p o r t at io n, r e c r e at io n, e c o n o mic , an d e nvir o nme nt al
s ys te m s of t he C e nt ral Wa s at c h M o unt ain s. While t he fo c al p oint of t he
p lannin g e f fo r t i s t he m o unt ain o u s ar e a s of t he Wa s at c h Fr o nt an d B a c k ,
t he s t ud y ar e a e x te n d s b eyo n d t he fo ot hill s s o t hat p r o p o s e d t ran s it a c t io n s
inte grate wit h s urr o un din g p lannin g e f fo r t s an d in c lude a c o nne c t io n t o
t he airp o r t . To date, t he fo ur s ys te m gr o up s have d o c ume nte d b a s e line
c o n dit io n s, an d c r e ate d vis io n, g o al s an d me t ric s fo r t he ir ide al “p e r fe c t
wo rld” s c e nario s. T he M o unt ain Ac c o r d E xe c ut ive C o mmit te e will c o n s ide r
e a c h s ys te m’s r e c o mme n dat io n s a s t hey h o ne in o n a p r e fe rr e d s c e nario
an d/o r in dividual r e c o mme n dat io n s t o analy ze in f ur t he r de t ail. Pha s e 2 of
t his e f fo r t will m o s t like ly in c lu de NEPA an d m o r e pub lic an d s t ake h o lde r
invo lve me nt . H oweve r, we e n c o ura ge yo u t o b e invo lve d n ow, p le a s e
g o o nline an d p r ovide c o mme nt s by Januar y 5t h. While F OA an d ot he r
s t ake h o lde r s ar e e n ga ge d in t he p r o c e s s, we ne e d o ur de s ir e d f ut ur e fo r
t he C e nt ral Wa s at c h t o b e he ar d l o ud an d c le ar.
...c o n t i n u e d f r o m f r o n t p a g e
In light of M o unt ain Ac c o r d, F OA is c o n s ide rin g
c han ge s o c c urrin g b eyo n d t he s te e p wall s of A lt a
b e c au s e t h o s e de c is io n s af fe c t A lt a an d o ur abilit y t o
c arr y o ut o ur mi s s io n. T his p r o gram ha s highlighte d
t he la c k of quant it at ive dat a availab le fo r t he C e nt ral
Wa s at c h. T he ab s e n c e of s c ie nt if ic info rmat io n
r e gar din g nat ural e c o s ys te m s ha s n ot all owe d fo r
info rme d de c is io n mak in g an d analys i s t o date. F OA
will c o nt inue t o s up p o r t t his p r o gram wit h dat a f r o m
o ur e f fo r t s s uc h a s inva s ive we e d map pin g, p r ote c te d
lan d s, bir d s ur veys an d we t lan d info rmat io n. While
imp o r t ant, t his i s ju s t a t iny s live r of info rmat io n fo r
a s mall p o r t io n of t he s t ud y ar e a. A s ide nt if ie d in
t he Envir o nme nt Sys te m gr o up’s p r o p o s e d a c t io n s,
we s up p o r t t hat Pha s e 2 of M o unt ain Ac c o r d in c lude
a b a s e line e nvir o nme nt al inve nt o r y of t he C e nt ral
Wa s at c h an d t he imp le me nt at io n of a m o nit o rin g
p r o gram an d a dapt ive mana ge me nt p lan. T his will
he lp u s e xamine e c o l o gic al imp a c t s f r o m c limate
c han ge, a d dit io nal deve l o p me nt, an d c han ge s in
t ran s it m o de s. We, a s s tewar d s, mu s t maint ain
he alt hy e c o s ys te m s, wate r quant it y an d qualit y,
r e c r e at io n e xp e rie n c e s, an d t he ae s t he t ic c hara c te r
of t he c anyo n s – t he r e is o nly o ne A lt a! B e t we e n a
p r o p o s e d s k i int e r c o nne c t, a d dit io nal inf ra s t r u c t ur e
an d p r oje c te d gr ow t h in t he valley we ar e N OT
gr owin g m o r e wil d p la c e s, we t lan d s an d habit at s.
F OA ha s always p ride d it s e lf in un de r s t an din g
t hat t he t own of A lt a mu s t maint ain it s e c o n o mic
viabilit y. We s up p o r t o ur c o mmunit y ’s b u s ine s s e s in
t he ir abilit y t o mat ur e in a manne r t hat e n c o ura ge s
s u s t ainabilit y an d r e t ain s A lt a’s unique c hara c te r.
T he r e ar e nume r o u s m o unt ain t own s of fe rin g
vario u s leve l s of s e r vic e; we b e lieve t hat A lt a’s
nic he, e mb o d yin g a quie t an d le s s deve l o p e d
c harm p r ovide s valuab le e c o n o mic b e ne f it . Muc h
of A lt a’s unique ne s s is e mb e d de d in o ur s e n s e of
p la c e – t he t o p of L it t le C ot t o nwo o d C anyo n (LC C).
Sur e, t he r e ar e imp r ove me nt s t o ma s s t ran s it an d
pub lic s afe t y t hat s h o uld b e imp le me nte d in LC C , b ut
o ur s e n s e of p la c e i s int imate ly t ie d wit h LC C b e in g
a de a d- e n d c anyo n. While a t ran s it inte r c o nne c t t o
B ig C ot t o nwo o d C anyo n an d Park Cit y c o uld of fe r
new e c o n o mic o p p o r t unit ie s, we b e lieve t hat A lt a’s
b u s ine s s e s s h o uld t ake a d vant a ge of t he unique ne s s
p r e s e nte d by b e in g at t he e n d of line.
O ne Wa s at c h is a c o n c e pt t o c o nne c t t he 7 C e nt ral
Wa s at c h s k i r e s o r t s u s in g at le a s t 6 new s k i lif t s.
Pr o p o s e d c o nne c t io n s wo uld b e c r e ate d b e t we e n
A lt a an d S o lit ude via G riz zly G ulc h; Park Cit y an d
B right o n via G uar d s man’s Pa s s; an d C anyo n s an d
Park Cit y. T he c o n c e pt wa s deve l o p e d by Sk i Ut ah
wit h s up p o r t f r o m t he 7 s k i r e s o r t s. We s u s p e c t t hat
t he r e c e nt s hif t s in owne r s hip of 3 o ut of 7 s k i ar e a s
will gr e at ly in c r e a s e t he fo r c e s pu s hin g fo r O ne
Wa s at c h. We k n ow t hat yo u - o ur FR IENDS - l ove
A lt a’s quie t an d ‘ le s s deve l o p e d ’ c harm, an d d o n’ t
want t o s e e A lt a r uine d by deve l o p me nt in c e nt ivize d
by s uc h a c o nne c t io n. T he r e ar e many wh o want
t o ke e p A lt a, A LTA , an d de s ir e a c o mmunit y whe r e
it i s all ab o ut s k iin g an d e nj oyin g t he nat ural
e nvir o nme nt . We ar e c o n c e rne d t hat t hat if O ne
Wa s at c h mate rialize s, it wo uld gra dually de s t r oy
what make s A lt a s o rar e an d valuab le.
O f ut m o s t imp o r t an c e, we want t o r e p o r t t hat o ur
laws uit a gain s t t he St ate En gine e r ’s de c i s io n t o all ow
wate r right s t o b e t ran s fe rr e d up -s t r e am t o dr y l ot s
in A lbio n B a s in f r o m t he b a s e of LC C is p r o c e e din g.
T his is a f ight wo r t h f ight in g. If we we r e t o l o s e
in c o ur t, A lbio n B a s in an d A lt a, wo uld fo r eve r b e
c han ge d by t he e n s uin g deve l o p me nt . Ple a s e s e e
t he ar t ic le o n t he ne x t p a ge fo r m o r e info rmat io n.
We want t o r e ite rate t hat Frie n d s of A lt a is F O R
p r ote c t io n of t he wate r s he d an d views he d, F O R o p e n
s p a c e an d human p owe r e d r e c r e at io n o p p o r t unit ie s,
an d F O R t he unique ne s s of A lt a. D ue t o ant ic ip ate d
ne gat ive imp a c t s o n t he e nvir o nme nt an d wate r
qualit y, view-s he d, an d r e c r e at io n, we o p p o s e a
t ran s it inte r c o nne c t wit h B ig C ot t o nwo o d C anyo n/
Park Cit y an d o p p o s e a s k i inte r c o nne c t via G riz zly
G ulc h. At t his t ime, t he r e ar e n o fo rmal p r o p o s al s
fo r t he s e c o n c e pt s b ut we ar e a c t ive ly e n ga ge d in
M o unt ain Ac c o r d an d ar e ke e pin g a wat c hf ul eye
o ut . We al s o c o nt inue o ur lan d c o n s e r vat io n wo rk ,
an d ar e ve r y e xc ite d t o ann o un c e t hat we have ju s t
pur c ha s e d an ot he r p ar c e l in t he b a s in. We a s k f o r
yo ur f in an c ial s up p o r t s o t h at we c an c o nt inu e
t o p r o t e c t an d c o n s e r ve A l t a’s e nvir o nm e nt
an d c h arac t e r.
M eet B ec k y H o lt, F O A B o a r d M em b er
G r owin g up in S alt L ake Cit y, I s p e nt t ime wit h
my family c ampin g, hik in g, an d s k iin g in L it t le
C ot t o nwo o d C anyo n. T he Wa s at c h wa s o ur
b a c k yar d. A f te r at te n din g c o lle ge in up s t ate N ew
Yo rk , I r e t urne d t o Ut ah in 20 05, wo rk in g in t he
dinin g r o o m at A lt a L o d ge. I inte n de d t o o nly s t ay
o ne winte r b e fo r e m ovin g o n. H oweve r, o ne s e a s o n
t urne d int o s eve ral. I s p e nt s ub s e que nt s e a s o n s
wo rk in g in t he A lf En ge n Sk i S c h o o l O f f ic e an d t he
Sk i T ic ke t O f f ic e wit h A lt a L if t s C o., while ke e pin g
up s o me s hif t s at A lt a L o d ge he r e an d t he r e. I s p e nt
t he of f-s e a s o n t rave lin g ar o un d t he c o unt r y an d
ab r o a d, b ut t he fall wo uld b rin g me b a c k t o Ut ah fo r
an ot he r s k i s e a s o n. A s I t rave le d an d live d in vario u s dif fe r e nt p la c e s,
I r e alize d t hat S alt L ake Cit y i s p ar t ic ularly unique
b e c au s e of it s unp aralle le d a c c e s s t o t he o ut d o o r s
an d p r ote c te d p ub lic lan d s. F o r t his r e a s o n, I
m ove d b a c k t o S alt L ake Cit y f ull t ime in 20 0 9
an d at te n de d t he Unive r s it y of Ut ah, S. J. Q uinney
C o lle ge of L aw. T hr o ugh o ut law s c h o o l, A lt a wa s t he
l o c al e s c ap e, whe t he r fo r p r e - c la s s p owde r r un s in
t he r e s o r t o r hik in g ar o un d t he s ide c o unt r y o n t he
we e ke n d s. I me t my hu s b an d C ame r o n in law s c h o o l,
b ut it wa s t he c arp o o lin g up L it t le C ot t o nwo o d, lif t
ride s at A lt a, an d b e e r s at t he Sit zmark in t he A lt a
L o d ge whe r e we g ot t o k n ow e a c h ot he r. I gra duate d
f r o m law s c h o o l in 2011 an d c urr e nt ly p ra c t ic e wit h
L e ar & L e ar, L L P, a b o ut ique nat ural r e s o ur c e s f irm
in S alt L ake Cit y, s p e c ializin g in oil an d ga s law.
C ame r o n an d I live ne ar d ownt own S alt L ake Cit y,
an d b ot h value t he abilit y t o live wit hin f ive minute s
of o ur of f ic e s an d fo r t y minute s f r o m A lt a an d ot he r
de s t inat io n s in t he Wa s at c h. A lt a is p ar t ic ularly dis t in c t ive fo r it s ric h hi s t o r y an d
vib rant c o mmunit y, a s we ll a s it s un deve l o p e d p ub lic
o p e n s p a c e t hat p r ovide s fo r ye ar r o un d r e n owne d
r e c r e at io n o p p o r t unit ie s, p r ot e c t e d wil dlife habit at,
an d a nat ural r e t r e at f r o m t he c it y fo r t he pub lic
t o e nj oy in a d dit io n t o s e r vin g a vit al e c o n o mic
f un c t io n a s a wate r s he d fo r t he r e s ide nt s of t he S alt
L ake Valley. It is imp o r t ant t hat t he s e dis t in c t ive
c hara c te ris t ic s ar e fa c t o r e d int o t he M o unt ain
Ac c o r d de c i s io n-mak in g p r o c e s s in o r de r t o p r e s e r ve
t he “A lt a E xp e rie n c e” fo r f ut ur e ge ne rat io n s. T he
M o unt ain Ac c o r d i s a p ub lic p r o c e s s an d I e n c o ura ge
yo u t o ge t invo lve d in t he c o nve r s at io n an d vis it
t he ir we b s ite at mountainaccord.com/get-involved
to s ub mit yo ur own c o mme nt s r e gar din g yo ur vis io n
fo r t he f ut ur e of t he C e nt ral Wa s at c h.
Sin c e r e ly,
Mimi L evit t &
J e n C lan c y
“ Ro mant i c A l t a” J o e C r ill y
2|
Preserving the Nature of Alta I’m p r o ud t o b e a b o ar d me mb e r wit h Frie n d s of
A lt a fo r t he unique o p p o r t unit y it p r e s e nt s t o b e a
p ar t of p r e s e r vin g an d maint ainin g t he c hara c te r
an d he rit a ge of A lt a a s we ll a s fo r it s r e c r e at io n
o p p o r t unit ie s an d nat ural an d s c e nic r e s o ur c e s.
A s a r e p r e s e nt at ive fo r Frie n d s of A lt a wit hin t he
Ec o n o my Sys te m gr o up of M o unt ain Ac c o r d, I have
b e e n at te n din g m o nt hly me e t in g s wit h vario u s ot he r
s t ake h o lde r s in an d ar o un d A lt a an d t he b r o a de r
C e nt ral Wa s at c h r e gio n t o c r e ate a f ramewo rk fo r
f ut ur e e c o n o mic deve l o p me nt in t he r e gio n. A s
p ar t of t he p r o c e s s we ar e ide nt if yin g ar e a s t hat
ar e s uit ab le fo r deve l o p me nt in o r de r t o at t ra c t
t o uris t s t o t he r e gio n a s we ll a s s up p o r t t he ne e d s
of a gr owin g l o c al p o p ulat io n, wit h t he g o al of
c o nne c t in g t he s e l o c at io n s wit h an e f f ic ie nt an d
r e liab le t ran s p o r t at io n ne t wo rk . It ha s b e e n a
p o s it ive e xp e rie n c e, an d e xc it in g t o b e a p ar t of
t he l o n g-te rm p lannin g fo r t he r e gio n o n b e half of
Frie n d s of A lt a an d a s a S alt L ake Cit y r e s ide nt wh o
is inte r e s te d in r e s p o n s ib le gr ow t h while p r e s e r vin g
t he qualit y of life an d nat ural r e s o ur c e s of t he
Wa s at c h. L o c al s k i e r Par ke r C o o k e nj oy s t h e
wo r l d r e n own e d p owd e r in A l t a by L e e C o h e n
Alta is a State of Mind
|7
Lit igat ion Again s t t he S t at e Engine e r
Re f le c t ion s on S umme r 2014
by Kat ie V it t i - Bill L evit t Fe llow
A s a l o n g t ime S alt L ake Valley r e s ide nt, I have
s p e nt a s ignif ic ant am o unt of t ime in t he o ut d o o r s.
F o r a s l o n g a s I c an r e me mb e r, my Da d s p e nt
t he maj o rit y of his days of f of wo rk t ak in g my
b r ot he r s an d I up L it t le C ot t o nwo o d t o te a c h u s
ab o ut nat ur e. I b e lieve t hi s e arly int r o du c t io n t o
t he e nvir o nme nt is ult imate ly r e s p o n s ib le fo r many
of t he c h oic e s I have ma de in life t hu s far. A s a
r e c e nt gra duate f r o m We s t min s te r C o lle ge wit h a
de gr e e in Envir o nme nt al S c ie n c e, I le f t n ot k n owin g
e xa c t ly what I wante d t o d o. A ll I k new is t hat
I wante d t o pur s ue s o me t hin g t hat c o mbine d my
l ove fo r s c ie n c e wit h my p a s s io n fo r p r ote c t in g an d
r e s t o rin g t he e nvir o nme nt . I s t umb le d up o n t he B ill
L evit t F e ll ows hip ve r y s h o r t ly af te r gra duat io n an d I
wa s e c s t at ic whe n I wa s of fe r e d t he p o s it io n. I fe lt
it wa s t he p e r fe c t c o mbinat io n of my t wo p a s s io n s
al o n g wit h givin g me t he c han c e t o gain e xp e rie n c e
t hat wo uld h o p e f ully give me a lit t le m o r e dir e c t io n
in life. In t he s h o r t am o unt of t ime t hat I have
wo rke d wit h t his o r ganiz at io n, I have b e e n ab le
t o s e e f ir s t han d s o many dif fe r e nt a s p e c t s of t he
e nvir o nme nt al n o np r of it wo rld.
L a s t F e b r uar y, F OA f ile d a c o mp laint a gain s t t he St ate En gine e r af te r he grante d a p e rmit ap p lic at io n t o
t ran s fe r wate r right s f r o m S an d y, up s t r e am t o p rivate ly owne d un deve l o p e d dr y l ot s in A lbio n B a s in. If le f t
un c halle n ge d, t hi s de c is io n p r ovide s in c e nt ive an d a me an s fo r owne r s of un deve l o p e d p ar c e l s t o c o mp ly
wit h b uildin g p e rmit r e quir e me nt s p r evio u s ly unme t in A lbio n B a s in. We s e e t his de c is io n a s t he t ip pin g
p oint fo r deve l o p me nt of A lbio n B a s in. S o t his f is c al ye ar, t he F OA B o ar d is inve s t in g s ignif ic ant f un d s, up
t o $ 4 0,0 0 0 t o p ur s ue t his e f fo r t . S e e n a s ab s o lute ly c rit ic al t o o ur mis s io n, we ne e d t o c ove r t his in c r e a s e
t o o ur annual b ud ge t . We a s k t hat yo u c o n s ide r a d o nat io n TO DAY t o s up p o r t Frie n d s of A lt a an d o ur
a c t io n s a gain s t t he St ate En gine e r. B e l ow, is a bit m o r e de t ail ab o ut o ur c o mp laint .
T his p a s t s p rin g, F OA’s c o mp laint wa s c o n s o lidate d wit h t he c o mp laint f ile d by S LC D e p ar t me nt of Pub lic
Ut ilit ie s - t he c o n s o lidat io n ha s b e e n favo rab le fo r F OA . In O c t o b e r durin g a he arin g b e fo r e Jud ge St o ne
t he St ate En gine e r ’s m ot io n t o bif ur c ate t he lit igat io n int o t wo mat te r s wa s s uc c e s s f ul. T his me an s t hat
Jud ge St o ne will f ir s t de c ide wh o a c t ually own s t he wate r right alle ge dly b e in g t ran s fe rr e d up s t r e am. T he n,
if warrante d t he fo ll owin g t hr e e is s ue s wo uld b e de c ide d. T his s ave s F OA t ime an d m o ney s in c e, if t he r e
is n o owne r s hip of t he wate r right, t he n t he is s ue s de s c rib e d b e l ow wo uld b e m o ot .
B i l l Le v i tt Fe l low Katie V i tti (Le ft) and Executive
A ssistan t S te l la D ay (Rig h t) staff th e FOA bo o th at the
A l ta W i l d fl owe r Fe sti val i n July
T his ha s b e e n a ve r y b u s y s umme r fo r Frie n d s of
A lt a. We have ha d 6 inva s ive we e d r e m oval eve nt s
wit h ove r 35 vo lunte e r s an d 4 8 b a g s of inva s ive
we e d s r e m ove d, he lp e d wit h mult ip le t rail wo rk
an d r e s t o rat io n days, an d wo rke d wit h t he D NR
o n amp hibian habit at a s s e s s me nt s. We al s o
p lante d 10 0 s e e dlin g s al o n g wit h 50 t ran s p lant s
in c ludin g 6 me m o rial t r e e s durin g o ur me m o rial
t r e e eve nt an d he ld a Hawk wat c h eve nt wit h t he
A lt a Envir o nme nt al C e nte r t hat ha d t he highe s t
at te n dan c e of t he s umme r. B e s ide s a s s is t in g wit h
eve nt s, my r e s p o n s ibilit ie s in c lu de d s o l o inva s ive
we e d r e m oval s al o n g wit h h o s t in g an A lt a Summe r
Pr o gram Nat uralis t info rmat io n t ab le o n c e a we e k
whe r e I info rme d vis it o r s ab o ut A lbio n B a s in an d ways
t hey c o uld t ake r e s p o n s ibilit y t o p r ote c t t he ar e a.
O ve rall, it wa s a s umme r f ille d wit h e nvir o nme nt al
s tewar d s hip an d e duc at io n t hat I wa s fo r t unate t o
b e a p ar t of.
Local c o ns ul t ing f irm E P G h e lp e d p u l l 1 7 b a g s of we e d s
at one o f o ur 6 vo lu n t e e r Inva sive Wee d Rem oval e ve n ts
Friends of Al ta holds 23 conservation ea sements
and is a proud member of the Land Trust Al liance.
LTA is the national organization setting best
practices in conservation and the leader in advocacy
for land protection. Visi t landtrustal liance.org.
6|
Preserving the Nature of Alta
F OA’s c o mp laint ha s t hr e e dis t in guis hin g c au s e s of a c t io n whic h ar e in de p e n de nt f r o m t he ot he r p laint if f s.
F ir s t, we c laim t he p r o p o s e d t ran s fe r of t he wate r dive r s io n p oint will a d ve r s e ly imp a c t t he “ in s t r e am
f l ow ” (t his is t he ar e a of a s t r e am whe r e imp o r t ant mic r o b e s in e s s e n c e s e al t he c r e e k s o wate r is n ot
l o s t int o t he gr o un d). S eve ral s t ate s have r e c o gnize d in s t r e am f l ow a s a le gal right a s s o c iate d wit h fe e
t it le owne r s hip t o r e al p r o p e r t y. T he r e ar e Ut ah Sup r e me C o ur t c a s e s whic h in c lude “dic t a” favo rab ly
c o mme nt in g o n in s t r e am f l ow, h oweve r t he r e ar e n o h o ldin g s an d t he r e fo r e n o le gal p r e c e de nt r e c o gnizin g
t his right in Ut ah. S e c o n d, we c laim a “ view s he d right .” T hat is, a right of a fe e owne r n ot t o have t he ir
view inte rr upte d o r le s s e ne d by a deve l o p me nt o n t he ir b o un dar y. Again, ot he r s t ate s have r e c o gnize d
t his right - Ut ah ha s n ot . A n d t hir d, o ur c o mp laint alle ge s un due p o lit ic al p r e s s ur e o n t he St ate En gine e r
f r o m p e o p le a s s o c iate d wit h t he g ove rn o r ’s of f ic e - t his is t he m o s t v ulne rab le t o dis mi s s al, b ut we b e lieve
we have a r e a s o nab le c han c e t o d o s o me p r e liminar y dis c ove r y b e fo r e t he de fe n dant s wo uld b e e nt it le d
t o make a s ummar y jud gme nt m ot io n. A s ummar y jud gme nt m ot io n is o ne in whic h t he r e ar e n o fa c t ual
dis p ute s an d t he jud ge c an de c ide t he mat te r a s a mat te r of law.
Protecting Al ta’s natural resources TODAY means a legacy of outdoor recreation and watershed
protection that your family and future generations can continue to enjoy tomorrow.
Friends of Alta is a 501(c)(3) organization, donations are 100% tax-deductible.
Donate today at friendsofalta.org
Al ta B i rd S u rve y s
In an e f fo r t t o a s s e s s t he he alt h of A lt a’s e c o s ys te m,
F OA , in p ar t ne r s hip wit h Tra c y Aviar y an d A lt a
Envir o nme nt al C e nt e r, ar e c o n du c t in g bir d s ur veys.
T he s e s t u die s will give u s in s ight a s t o what bir d
s p e c ie s ar e p r e s e nt, s o me t hin g t hat ha s ye t t o b e
d o ne in A lt a.
I am s o t hank f ul t o eve r yo ne at Frie n d s of A lt a an d
t o t h o s e t hat d o nate in h o n o r of B ill L evit t fo r givin g
me t his o p p o r t unit y. It ha s t r uly b e e n a j oy wo rk in g
al o n g s ide J e n, Ste lla, an d t he A lt a c o mmunit y a s a
wh o le. Frie n d s of A lt a d o e s amazin g wo rk p r ote c t in g
t his ve r y s p e c ial p la c e an d I l o o k fo r war d t o s e e in g
what t his o r ganiz at io n a c c o mp lis he s in t he ye ar s t o
c o me. A s fo r me, I am s t ill t r yin g t o f igur e o ut what
I want t o d o in t he f ut ur e, b ut I k n ow t hat I am we ll
o n my way t hank s t o Frie n d s of A lt a.
St ar t in g t hi s fall, vo lunte e r s will b e t raine d, s o
t hat a b a s e line b r e e din g bir d s ur vey c an s t ar t in
t he s p rin g. T he p r ot o c o l fo ll owe d by vo lunte e r s
c all s fo r dat a t o b e c o lle c te d at e a c h p oint (a grid
s ys te m wa s ove rlaye d o n t he s t u d y ar e a) at le a s t
o n c e durin g t he b r e e din g s e a s o n. In a d dit io n t o t he
b r e e din g bir d s ur veys, m o nt hly n o n-b r e e din g bir d
s ur veys b e gin t hi s fall.
Lo cal birders spo tted 28 bird species at o ur August “B ird
Walk” event wi th Tracy Aviary & Al ta Enviro nm ental Center
If yo u wo uld like m o r e info rmat io n o n t his s t ud y o r
wo uld like t o vo lunte e r, p le a s e e mail
c o n s e r vat io n@t ra c yaviar y.o r g
Alta is a State of Mind
|3
F i n a n c i al R e po rt
S ki p S i l l o wa y T re a sure r
This n ewsletter reports on a great deal
of activi ty in the Wasatch Mountains
making funding and the care of those
funds cri tical. Ski area consolidation,
and efforts to connect al l the Wasatch
resorts via li fts or roads or a train and
the alarming approval of a transfer of
water rights from the bottom of LCC
up to Albion B asin al l put tremendous
pressure on Al ta’s communi ty. The
mission of FOA is to conserve and
protect Al ta. To do so, we have focused
on purchasing privately owned land in
Albion B asin, and have just conserved
another
parcel.
We
also
defend
conservation of the basin using the court
system. We have budgeted a substantial
sum to stop the water transfer which,
i f al lowed to stand, would lead to
development in th is precious watershed
and open space, both of which must
be protected for future generations.
Land purchases and legal expenses, as
wel l as operations, require a continued
source of funding and the maintenance
of our Conservation Fund. This latter
fund is our anchor, the asset that al lows
us to act quickly. It is conservatively
invested and regularly reviewed wi th
our investment managers. We are
reassured wi th how i t is managed,
but do strive to make i t larger.
Thank you for your confidence in us.
2013-2014 F iscal Year End Rep o r t
Revenue
Contributions
$161,130
Directed Conservation Fund Contributions
$13,060
Conservation Fund Investment Income
$27,120
Directed Alta Defense Fund / Litigation Contributions
$5,500
Directed Bill Levitt Fellowship Contributions $95
Fundraising Programs 1 $17,892
Special Events: Alta Gala & San Francisco “net”
$15,905
Total Revenue
$240,702
Expenses
Operations $41,361
Alta School & Community Grants
$2,597
Alta Community and Governmental Relations
$27,508
Support of Town of Alta Zoning Regulations
$36,672
Environmental Education, Studies & Sustainability 2 $50,919
Land Conservation 3 $66,014
Litigation Against the St. Engineer
$12,047
Fundraising $29,391
Conservation Fund Management Fees
$3,245
Total Expenses
$269,754
Conservation Fund Market Value: 6/30/2013
6/30/2014
$834,369
$852,990
1. Alta Shuttle Donations, Alta Mid-Winter Study Group, Love Utah Give Utah, Memorial Tree
Program, Merchandise
2. Alta Summer Booth Personnel Support, Summer Stewardship Programs, Wetland Study,
GIS Mapping
3. Acquisitions, Due Diligence, Conservation Easement Monitoring, Insurance, GIS Mapping,
Conservation Resources & Planning
Me mo r i a l Gro ve P l a que R e turned
During a visi t to Memorial Grove last spring
Mimi Levi tt realized that two plaques had been
removed. One plaque was beauti ful ly etched
wi th peaks unfolding from Devil’s Castle through
Mt. Superior and was donated by Duane and
Jody Shrontz. The other plaque was donated by
FOA and honored Mayor B il l Levi tt - i t included
his special saying “Peace and Powder Snow.” A
story about the missing plaques was published in
the Sal t Lake Tribune, and surprisingly the one
depicting mountain peaks was returned the very
next day. FOA re-instal led the plaque in a way that
wil l make i t nearly impossible to remove again.
We are very appreciative of the generous support
received to help us cover the expenses associated
wi th reinstal ling these plaques. If the “Peace and
Powder Snow” plaque is not returned or recovered
by next spring, then we wil l replace that one as
wel l. We look forward to bringing the communi ty
together wi th a dedication ceremony next summer.
Thank You For Your Support
Friends’ Donations: Fiscal Year July 2013 through June 2014
We deeply appreciate the support of all our contributors. It is our policy to only list people who have provided permission.
Please accept our sincere apology for any errors or omissions. To be added to this list or make corrections email info@friendsofalta.org.
Columbine $1,000+
Anonymous (11)
Alta Shuttle
George Armantrout
David Arnold III
Sam Bailey
Nick & Ellen Besobrasov
The Byrne Family
Judith & Murray Danforth
Chuck & Marna Davis
Donna Dean
Kim & Nancy Faulkner
Gwen & Austin Fragomen
The Franzen Family
Nick & Courtney Gibbs
Bill & Shannon Gordon
Suzanne & Richard Kayne
Tio & Janell Kleberg
Peg & Michael Kramer
Karl Krieger
Mimi Levitt
Leyli Zohrenejad &
Maximilian Coreth
Brian R Matas
Peter & Kathleen Metcalf
John & Bonnie Morgan
Michael Moritz &
Harriet Heyman
Jonathan & Judy Nelson
Frederick Paine
Nicholas Platt
Paul V Profeta
Purjes Foundation
Susan Rennau
John & Leslie Reynolds
Joan & Lynn Seppala
Elfriede Shane
Stuart & Molly Silloway
Bill & Carolyn Stutt
Richard & Susan Thomas
Naomi S Wain
Win & Terrie Warren
Eleanor & Fred Winston
LLWW Foundation
Alpine Shooting Star
$500-$999
A coyote h owls in A lb ion B asin by Jo hn F rawley
4|
Preserving the Nature of Alta
Anonymous (18)
The Ablowitz Family
Steven S Armour
Rudy Bunzl
David & Kitty Crosby
Marcus & Cassie Dippo
Eric & Evelyn Fry
Lynn Goldman & Doug Hayward
Anne & Paul Grand
David & Bean Granger
Libby & Craig Heimark
John H Holland Jr.
Rebecca Holt &
Cameron Johnson
Jill & Ken Iscol
Peter & Karen Jakes
Gloria Lee & Hank Gifford
Charley Marshall MD &
Rosa Marshall
Chris & Sue Mikell
Dr. Donn & Janet Mosser
“Uncle Ed” Ohm
Patagonia & Alta Ski Shop
Richard & Sheila Schlesinger
Thomas Stibolt &
Elizabeth Brenner
Jack W Swenson
Lois Swick
Brinkley Thorne
Pat & Dick Warner
Indian Paintbrush
$100-$499
Anonymous (97)
Dan & Mim Allison
Eleanor & Bob Anderson
Fred & Terri Ayer
Brad Barber & Tina West
Joel Bard
Barrett Family
Erik & Cathy Bayer
Bruce & Judy Bell
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Benedict
Mr. Perry Benson, Jr.
Jim Bergstedt
David & Sandra Berler
Judy & Dadla Berlfein
Pete & Ruth Bleyler
Eugene L Bliss
Lake Effect
Jo Blum
Kenyon C Bolton III
Jon Boyden
Skip Branch
Jackie Brody
Jake & Michelle Brooks
Edward Bursk
Janet M Carpenter
Kurt & Deborah Christiansen
Reed & Ann Coleman
Patrick Collier
Beverly C Compton Jr
Peter Corroon
Alan & Joan Cruickshank
Cliff Curry
Michael Curtis
Gregg & Sheridan Davis
Jim Dreyfous
Paul & Marilyn Duncan
John & Barbara Dunlea
Jim Gaddis
Pete Gibbs
Randy Gifford &
Janet Prescher
Lynn Gilbert
Bud & Judith Glickman
Jock Glidden
Peter & Jane Goedecke
Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge
Michael Goldstein
Joe & Oakley Goodner
Rudolf & Dorothy Graf
Bill Gratz
Rich & Gayle Green
Haig Benefits LLC
Marita Hart
John R Hays Jr
Frank & Jane Heart
Charlie & Genia Hill
Jack Hoag
Barbara Hoffman
Tim Hogen
Ed & Betty Horton
Austin & Felicity Forbes Hoyt
Elizabeth Anne Hutchison
Institute for Dermatopathology
Pamela & David Kenney
David Kliger & Phyllis Mandel
Gerard & Diane Koeppel
Ivan &Tamara Lazarev
Jeff & Judy Leon
Victoria Levitt
Mrs Robert O Levitt
Dale Lindquist
Richard & Sharon Linville
Bradford S Lovette
Tia Welch Maerz
George Mallis
Tim & Laura Martin
John & Megan Martinelli
John Meigs & Carolyn Adams
Charlie Merriman
Glenna R. Michaels
Dorothy & Elihu Modlin
Anne & Mead Montgomery
Jack & Chris Morrison
Pam & Chris Muray
Robert J Nelson
Nic Nichol
Catherine & Guy Nordenson
Richard Novick
Stewart & Joan Ogden
Jay & Kathy Ogsbury
Lynn Owen
Jerry Oyama & Allyn Hart
Michael Parker
Janet Prindle
John N Eldridge
Betsy Wolf & David Ream
Howie Garber
Martin E Rich
Geordie Hall
Frank M Ryan MD
Pamela E & Richard Hanrahan
Bill Sargent
Su Hilty
Robert Scheuer
John Horvitz
Drs. Robert & Franziska Schoenfeld E Quinn Ives
Thomas G Schueller
Dr. Harry Jacob
Jim Schultz
Daryl & Kay James
Bruce Shand
Anne Garrels & Vint Lawrence
Patrick A Shea
Peter & Susan Loffler
Allan Silverstein Family Foundation Sarah McCloskey
Carl & Sharon Spaulding
Stephen & Corey McGrath
Jim Struve & Jeff Bell
Sue Mellins
Tom & Diana Sutter
Robert E Miller
Nancy & Mort Thalhimer Jr
Brooks & Kristin Motley
Kirk Thomas
Tom Nash
The Nature Conservancy in Utah Eva Nieminski, Ph.D.
Kent & Patty Troup
Rosie O’Grady & Ruby
Charles & Nancy Van Dyke
Prior L Parker MD
Rob & Judith Voye
Charles H Quinn
Neff Walker
Bruce & Piper Remington
Albany Home for Unwed Skiers
Jan Sargert
Jack Weidenbach
Bruce Shenker
Joan D Wheeler
Catherine Turnbull
Clint & Kim Williams
Lorna Vogt
Williams Realty
Denny Walters
Mrs. Samuel D Williams
Jeff Wyner
Ted Wilson & Holly Mullen
Penny Young
The Withey Family
Ruth M Wolf
In Kind Support
David Zanick
Albion Financial Group
Deb Zeeman
Alta Community Enrichment
Jamie Longe & Wendy Zeigler
Alta Lodge
Charlie Zelle
Alta Shuttle
Lupine $1-$99
Alta Ski Area
Anonymous (52)
Alta Environmental Center
David Agler
Cottonwood Canyons Foundation
Jerry & Barbara Amos
Eide Bailly LLP
Tom Berggren
Howie Garber
Ed Blaney
John Blumenkamp
The Blower Family
Lee Cohen
Jim Brown
Mimi Muray Levitt
Jan & Rick Burns
Nick Besobrasov & Jerry Taylor
Sanford Carter
Nick Rice
Mike Cattan
Porcupine Pub & Grille
Percy Chubb
Printer’s Inc.
Margot & Fred Churchill
Sheridan & Gregg Davis Lisa Cifelli
& jetBlue
Jennifer Clancy
The Alta Store & David Davenport
Bob & Glenda Cottrill
The Shallow Shaft Restaurant
Anne E Cramer
Trader Joes
Merebea M Danforth
Tree Utah
Anne, Margaret &
Wasatch Powder House
Michael Davis
XMission
Melissa & Molly Donohue
Diane Eagan
PAge 6
Alta is a State of Mind
|5
F i n a n c i al R e po rt
S ki p S i l l o wa y T re a sure r
This n ewsletter reports on a great deal
of activi ty in the Wasatch Mountains
making funding and the care of those
funds cri tical. Ski area consolidation,
and efforts to connect al l the Wasatch
resorts via li fts or roads or a train and
the alarming approval of a transfer of
water rights from the bottom of LCC
up to Albion B asin al l put tremendous
pressure on Al ta’s communi ty. The
mission of FOA is to conserve and
protect Al ta. To do so, we have focused
on purchasing privately owned land in
Albion B asin, and have just conserved
another
parcel.
We
also
defend
conservation of the basin using the court
system. We have budgeted a substantial
sum to stop the water transfer which,
i f al lowed to stand, would lead to
development in th is precious watershed
and open space, both of which must
be protected for future generations.
Land purchases and legal expenses, as
wel l as operations, require a continued
source of funding and the maintenance
of our Conservation Fund. This latter
fund is our anchor, the asset that al lows
us to act quickly. It is conservatively
invested and regularly reviewed wi th
our investment managers. We are
reassured wi th how i t is managed,
but do strive to make i t larger.
Thank you for your confidence in us.
2013-2014 F iscal Year End Rep o r t
Revenue
Contributions
$161,130
Directed Conservation Fund Contributions
$13,060
Conservation Fund Investment Income
$27,120
Directed Alta Defense Fund / Litigation Contributions
$5,500
Directed Bill Levitt Fellowship Contributions $95
Fundraising Programs 1 $17,892
Special Events: Alta Gala & San Francisco “net”
$15,905
Total Revenue
$240,702
Expenses
Operations $41,361
Alta School & Community Grants
$2,597
Alta Community and Governmental Relations
$27,508
Support of Town of Alta Zoning Regulations
$36,672
Environmental Education, Studies & Sustainability 2 $50,919
Land Conservation 3 $66,014
Litigation Against the St. Engineer
$12,047
Fundraising $29,391
Conservation Fund Management Fees
$3,245
Total Expenses
$269,754
Conservation Fund Market Value: 6/30/2013
6/30/2014
$834,369
$852,990
1. Alta Shuttle Donations, Alta Mid-Winter Study Group, Love Utah Give Utah, Memorial Tree
Program, Merchandise
2. Alta Summer Booth Personnel Support, Summer Stewardship Programs, Wetland Study,
GIS Mapping
3. Acquisitions, Due Diligence, Conservation Easement Monitoring, Insurance, GIS Mapping,
Conservation Resources & Planning
Me mo r i a l Gro ve P l a que R e turned
During a visi t to Memorial Grove last spring
Mimi Levi tt realized that two plaques had been
removed. One plaque was beauti ful ly etched
wi th peaks unfolding from Devil’s Castle through
Mt. Superior and was donated by Duane and
Jody Shrontz. The other plaque was donated by
FOA and honored Mayor B il l Levi tt - i t included
his special saying “Peace and Powder Snow.” A
story about the missing plaques was published in
the Sal t Lake Tribune, and surprisingly the one
depicting mountain peaks was returned the very
next day. FOA re-instal led the plaque in a way that
wil l make i t nearly impossible to remove again.
We are very appreciative of the generous support
received to help us cover the expenses associated
wi th reinstal ling these plaques. If the “Peace and
Powder Snow” plaque is not returned or recovered
by next spring, then we wil l replace that one as
wel l. We look forward to bringing the communi ty
together wi th a dedication ceremony next summer.
Thank You For Your Support
Friends’ Donations: Fiscal Year July 2013 through June 2014
We deeply appreciate the support of all our contributors. It is our policy to only list people who have provided permission.
Please accept our sincere apology for any errors or omissions. To be added to this list or make corrections email info@friendsofalta.org.
Columbine $1,000+
Anonymous (11)
Alta Shuttle
George Armantrout
David Arnold III
Sam Bailey
Nick & Ellen Besobrasov
The Byrne Family
Judith & Murray Danforth
Chuck & Marna Davis
Donna Dean
Kim & Nancy Faulkner
Gwen & Austin Fragomen
The Franzen Family
Nick & Courtney Gibbs
Bill & Shannon Gordon
Suzanne & Richard Kayne
Tio & Janell Kleberg
Peg & Michael Kramer
Karl Krieger
Mimi Levitt
Leyli Zohrenejad &
Maximilian Coreth
Brian R Matas
Peter & Kathleen Metcalf
John & Bonnie Morgan
Michael Moritz &
Harriet Heyman
Jonathan & Judy Nelson
Frederick Paine
Nicholas Platt
Paul V Profeta
Purjes Foundation
Susan Rennau
John & Leslie Reynolds
Joan & Lynn Seppala
Elfriede Shane
Stuart & Molly Silloway
Bill & Carolyn Stutt
Richard & Susan Thomas
Naomi S Wain
Win & Terrie Warren
Eleanor & Fred Winston
LLWW Foundation
Alpine Shooting Star
$500-$999
A coyote h owls in A lb ion B asin by Jo hn F rawley
4|
Preserving the Nature of Alta
Anonymous (18)
The Ablowitz Family
Steven S Armour
Rudy Bunzl
David & Kitty Crosby
Marcus & Cassie Dippo
Eric & Evelyn Fry
Lynn Goldman & Doug Hayward
Anne & Paul Grand
David & Bean Granger
Libby & Craig Heimark
John H Holland Jr.
Rebecca Holt &
Cameron Johnson
Jill & Ken Iscol
Peter & Karen Jakes
Gloria Lee & Hank Gifford
Charley Marshall MD &
Rosa Marshall
Chris & Sue Mikell
Dr. Donn & Janet Mosser
“Uncle Ed” Ohm
Patagonia & Alta Ski Shop
Richard & Sheila Schlesinger
Thomas Stibolt &
Elizabeth Brenner
Jack W Swenson
Lois Swick
Brinkley Thorne
Pat & Dick Warner
Indian Paintbrush
$100-$499
Anonymous (97)
Dan & Mim Allison
Eleanor & Bob Anderson
Fred & Terri Ayer
Brad Barber & Tina West
Joel Bard
Barrett Family
Erik & Cathy Bayer
Bruce & Judy Bell
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Benedict
Mr. Perry Benson, Jr.
Jim Bergstedt
David & Sandra Berler
Judy & Dadla Berlfein
Pete & Ruth Bleyler
Eugene L Bliss
Lake Effect
Jo Blum
Kenyon C Bolton III
Jon Boyden
Skip Branch
Jackie Brody
Jake & Michelle Brooks
Edward Bursk
Janet M Carpenter
Kurt & Deborah Christiansen
Reed & Ann Coleman
Patrick Collier
Beverly C Compton Jr
Peter Corroon
Alan & Joan Cruickshank
Cliff Curry
Michael Curtis
Gregg & Sheridan Davis
Jim Dreyfous
Paul & Marilyn Duncan
John & Barbara Dunlea
Jim Gaddis
Pete Gibbs
Randy Gifford &
Janet Prescher
Lynn Gilbert
Bud & Judith Glickman
Jock Glidden
Peter & Jane Goedecke
Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge
Michael Goldstein
Joe & Oakley Goodner
Rudolf & Dorothy Graf
Bill Gratz
Rich & Gayle Green
Haig Benefits LLC
Marita Hart
John R Hays Jr
Frank & Jane Heart
Charlie & Genia Hill
Jack Hoag
Barbara Hoffman
Tim Hogen
Ed & Betty Horton
Austin & Felicity Forbes Hoyt
Elizabeth Anne Hutchison
Institute for Dermatopathology
Pamela & David Kenney
David Kliger & Phyllis Mandel
Gerard & Diane Koeppel
Ivan &Tamara Lazarev
Jeff & Judy Leon
Victoria Levitt
Mrs Robert O Levitt
Dale Lindquist
Richard & Sharon Linville
Bradford S Lovette
Tia Welch Maerz
George Mallis
Tim & Laura Martin
John & Megan Martinelli
John Meigs & Carolyn Adams
Charlie Merriman
Glenna R. Michaels
Dorothy & Elihu Modlin
Anne & Mead Montgomery
Jack & Chris Morrison
Pam & Chris Muray
Robert J Nelson
Nic Nichol
Catherine & Guy Nordenson
Richard Novick
Stewart & Joan Ogden
Jay & Kathy Ogsbury
Lynn Owen
Jerry Oyama & Allyn Hart
Michael Parker
Janet Prindle
John N Eldridge
Betsy Wolf & David Ream
Howie Garber
Martin E Rich
Geordie Hall
Frank M Ryan MD
Pamela E & Richard Hanrahan
Bill Sargent
Su Hilty
Robert Scheuer
John Horvitz
Drs. Robert & Franziska Schoenfeld E Quinn Ives
Thomas G Schueller
Dr. Harry Jacob
Jim Schultz
Daryl & Kay James
Bruce Shand
Anne Garrels & Vint Lawrence
Patrick A Shea
Peter & Susan Loffler
Allan Silverstein Family Foundation Sarah McCloskey
Carl & Sharon Spaulding
Stephen & Corey McGrath
Jim Struve & Jeff Bell
Sue Mellins
Tom & Diana Sutter
Robert E Miller
Nancy & Mort Thalhimer Jr
Brooks & Kristin Motley
Kirk Thomas
Tom Nash
The Nature Conservancy in Utah Eva Nieminski, Ph.D.
Kent & Patty Troup
Rosie O’Grady & Ruby
Charles & Nancy Van Dyke
Prior L Parker MD
Rob & Judith Voye
Charles H Quinn
Neff Walker
Bruce & Piper Remington
Albany Home for Unwed Skiers
Jan Sargert
Jack Weidenbach
Bruce Shenker
Joan D Wheeler
Catherine Turnbull
Clint & Kim Williams
Lorna Vogt
Williams Realty
Denny Walters
Mrs. Samuel D Williams
Jeff Wyner
Ted Wilson & Holly Mullen
Penny Young
The Withey Family
Ruth M Wolf
In Kind Support
David Zanick
Albion Financial Group
Deb Zeeman
Alta Community Enrichment
Jamie Longe & Wendy Zeigler
Alta Lodge
Charlie Zelle
Alta Shuttle
Lupine $1-$99
Alta Ski Area
Anonymous (52)
Alta Environmental Center
David Agler
Cottonwood Canyons Foundation
Jerry & Barbara Amos
Eide Bailly LLP
Tom Berggren
Howie Garber
Ed Blaney
John Blumenkamp
The Blower Family
Lee Cohen
Jim Brown
Mimi Muray Levitt
Jan & Rick Burns
Nick Besobrasov & Jerry Taylor
Sanford Carter
Nick Rice
Mike Cattan
Porcupine Pub & Grille
Percy Chubb
Printer’s Inc.
Margot & Fred Churchill
Sheridan & Gregg Davis Lisa Cifelli
& jetBlue
Jennifer Clancy
The Alta Store & David Davenport
Bob & Glenda Cottrill
The Shallow Shaft Restaurant
Anne E Cramer
Trader Joes
Merebea M Danforth
Tree Utah
Anne, Margaret &
Wasatch Powder House
Michael Davis
XMission
Melissa & Molly Donohue
Diane Eagan
PAge 6
Alta is a State of Mind
|5
Lit igat ion Again s t t he S t at e Engine e r
Re f le c t ion s on S umme r 2014
by Kat ie V it t i - Bill L evit t Fe llow
A s a l o n g t ime S alt L ake Valley r e s ide nt, I have
s p e nt a s ignif ic ant am o unt of t ime in t he o ut d o o r s.
F o r a s l o n g a s I c an r e me mb e r, my Da d s p e nt
t he maj o rit y of his days of f of wo rk t ak in g my
b r ot he r s an d I up L it t le C ot t o nwo o d t o te a c h u s
ab o ut nat ur e. I b e lieve t hi s e arly int r o du c t io n t o
t he e nvir o nme nt is ult imate ly r e s p o n s ib le fo r many
of t he c h oic e s I have ma de in life t hu s far. A s a
r e c e nt gra duate f r o m We s t min s te r C o lle ge wit h a
de gr e e in Envir o nme nt al S c ie n c e, I le f t n ot k n owin g
e xa c t ly what I wante d t o d o. A ll I k new is t hat
I wante d t o pur s ue s o me t hin g t hat c o mbine d my
l ove fo r s c ie n c e wit h my p a s s io n fo r p r ote c t in g an d
r e s t o rin g t he e nvir o nme nt . I s t umb le d up o n t he B ill
L evit t F e ll ows hip ve r y s h o r t ly af te r gra duat io n an d I
wa s e c s t at ic whe n I wa s of fe r e d t he p o s it io n. I fe lt
it wa s t he p e r fe c t c o mbinat io n of my t wo p a s s io n s
al o n g wit h givin g me t he c han c e t o gain e xp e rie n c e
t hat wo uld h o p e f ully give me a lit t le m o r e dir e c t io n
in life. In t he s h o r t am o unt of t ime t hat I have
wo rke d wit h t his o r ganiz at io n, I have b e e n ab le
t o s e e f ir s t han d s o many dif fe r e nt a s p e c t s of t he
e nvir o nme nt al n o np r of it wo rld.
L a s t F e b r uar y, F OA f ile d a c o mp laint a gain s t t he St ate En gine e r af te r he grante d a p e rmit ap p lic at io n t o
t ran s fe r wate r right s f r o m S an d y, up s t r e am t o p rivate ly owne d un deve l o p e d dr y l ot s in A lbio n B a s in. If le f t
un c halle n ge d, t hi s de c is io n p r ovide s in c e nt ive an d a me an s fo r owne r s of un deve l o p e d p ar c e l s t o c o mp ly
wit h b uildin g p e rmit r e quir e me nt s p r evio u s ly unme t in A lbio n B a s in. We s e e t his de c is io n a s t he t ip pin g
p oint fo r deve l o p me nt of A lbio n B a s in. S o t his f is c al ye ar, t he F OA B o ar d is inve s t in g s ignif ic ant f un d s, up
t o $ 4 0,0 0 0 t o p ur s ue t his e f fo r t . S e e n a s ab s o lute ly c rit ic al t o o ur mis s io n, we ne e d t o c ove r t his in c r e a s e
t o o ur annual b ud ge t . We a s k t hat yo u c o n s ide r a d o nat io n TO DAY t o s up p o r t Frie n d s of A lt a an d o ur
a c t io n s a gain s t t he St ate En gine e r. B e l ow, is a bit m o r e de t ail ab o ut o ur c o mp laint .
T his p a s t s p rin g, F OA’s c o mp laint wa s c o n s o lidate d wit h t he c o mp laint f ile d by S LC D e p ar t me nt of Pub lic
Ut ilit ie s - t he c o n s o lidat io n ha s b e e n favo rab le fo r F OA . In O c t o b e r durin g a he arin g b e fo r e Jud ge St o ne
t he St ate En gine e r ’s m ot io n t o bif ur c ate t he lit igat io n int o t wo mat te r s wa s s uc c e s s f ul. T his me an s t hat
Jud ge St o ne will f ir s t de c ide wh o a c t ually own s t he wate r right alle ge dly b e in g t ran s fe rr e d up s t r e am. T he n,
if warrante d t he fo ll owin g t hr e e is s ue s wo uld b e de c ide d. T his s ave s F OA t ime an d m o ney s in c e, if t he r e
is n o owne r s hip of t he wate r right, t he n t he is s ue s de s c rib e d b e l ow wo uld b e m o ot .
B i l l Le v i tt Fe l low Katie V i tti (Le ft) and Executive
A ssistan t S te l la D ay (Rig h t) staff th e FOA bo o th at the
A l ta W i l d fl owe r Fe sti val i n July
T his ha s b e e n a ve r y b u s y s umme r fo r Frie n d s of
A lt a. We have ha d 6 inva s ive we e d r e m oval eve nt s
wit h ove r 35 vo lunte e r s an d 4 8 b a g s of inva s ive
we e d s r e m ove d, he lp e d wit h mult ip le t rail wo rk
an d r e s t o rat io n days, an d wo rke d wit h t he D NR
o n amp hibian habit at a s s e s s me nt s. We al s o
p lante d 10 0 s e e dlin g s al o n g wit h 50 t ran s p lant s
in c ludin g 6 me m o rial t r e e s durin g o ur me m o rial
t r e e eve nt an d he ld a Hawk wat c h eve nt wit h t he
A lt a Envir o nme nt al C e nte r t hat ha d t he highe s t
at te n dan c e of t he s umme r. B e s ide s a s s is t in g wit h
eve nt s, my r e s p o n s ibilit ie s in c lu de d s o l o inva s ive
we e d r e m oval s al o n g wit h h o s t in g an A lt a Summe r
Pr o gram Nat uralis t info rmat io n t ab le o n c e a we e k
whe r e I info rme d vis it o r s ab o ut A lbio n B a s in an d ways
t hey c o uld t ake r e s p o n s ibilit y t o p r ote c t t he ar e a.
O ve rall, it wa s a s umme r f ille d wit h e nvir o nme nt al
s tewar d s hip an d e duc at io n t hat I wa s fo r t unate t o
b e a p ar t of.
Local c o ns ul t ing f irm E P G h e lp e d p u l l 1 7 b a g s of we e d s
at one o f o ur 6 vo lu n t e e r Inva sive Wee d Rem oval e ve n ts
Friends of Al ta holds 23 conservation ea sements
and is a proud member of the Land Trust Al liance.
LTA is the national organization setting best
practices in conservation and the leader in advocacy
for land protection. Visi t landtrustal liance.org.
6|
Preserving the Nature of Alta
F OA’s c o mp laint ha s t hr e e dis t in guis hin g c au s e s of a c t io n whic h ar e in de p e n de nt f r o m t he ot he r p laint if f s.
F ir s t, we c laim t he p r o p o s e d t ran s fe r of t he wate r dive r s io n p oint will a d ve r s e ly imp a c t t he “ in s t r e am
f l ow ” (t his is t he ar e a of a s t r e am whe r e imp o r t ant mic r o b e s in e s s e n c e s e al t he c r e e k s o wate r is n ot
l o s t int o t he gr o un d). S eve ral s t ate s have r e c o gnize d in s t r e am f l ow a s a le gal right a s s o c iate d wit h fe e
t it le owne r s hip t o r e al p r o p e r t y. T he r e ar e Ut ah Sup r e me C o ur t c a s e s whic h in c lude “dic t a” favo rab ly
c o mme nt in g o n in s t r e am f l ow, h oweve r t he r e ar e n o h o ldin g s an d t he r e fo r e n o le gal p r e c e de nt r e c o gnizin g
t his right in Ut ah. S e c o n d, we c laim a “ view s he d right .” T hat is, a right of a fe e owne r n ot t o have t he ir
view inte rr upte d o r le s s e ne d by a deve l o p me nt o n t he ir b o un dar y. Again, ot he r s t ate s have r e c o gnize d
t his right - Ut ah ha s n ot . A n d t hir d, o ur c o mp laint alle ge s un due p o lit ic al p r e s s ur e o n t he St ate En gine e r
f r o m p e o p le a s s o c iate d wit h t he g ove rn o r ’s of f ic e - t his is t he m o s t v ulne rab le t o dis mi s s al, b ut we b e lieve
we have a r e a s o nab le c han c e t o d o s o me p r e liminar y dis c ove r y b e fo r e t he de fe n dant s wo uld b e e nt it le d
t o make a s ummar y jud gme nt m ot io n. A s ummar y jud gme nt m ot io n is o ne in whic h t he r e ar e n o fa c t ual
dis p ute s an d t he jud ge c an de c ide t he mat te r a s a mat te r of law.
Protecting Al ta’s natural resources TODAY means a legacy of outdoor recreation and watershed
protection that your family and future generations can continue to enjoy tomorrow.
Friends of Alta is a 501(c)(3) organization, donations are 100% tax-deductible.
Donate today at friendsofalta.org
Al ta B i rd S u rve y s
In an e f fo r t t o a s s e s s t he he alt h of A lt a’s e c o s ys te m,
F OA , in p ar t ne r s hip wit h Tra c y Aviar y an d A lt a
Envir o nme nt al C e nt e r, ar e c o n du c t in g bir d s ur veys.
T he s e s t u die s will give u s in s ight a s t o what bir d
s p e c ie s ar e p r e s e nt, s o me t hin g t hat ha s ye t t o b e
d o ne in A lt a.
I am s o t hank f ul t o eve r yo ne at Frie n d s of A lt a an d
t o t h o s e t hat d o nate in h o n o r of B ill L evit t fo r givin g
me t his o p p o r t unit y. It ha s t r uly b e e n a j oy wo rk in g
al o n g s ide J e n, Ste lla, an d t he A lt a c o mmunit y a s a
wh o le. Frie n d s of A lt a d o e s amazin g wo rk p r ote c t in g
t his ve r y s p e c ial p la c e an d I l o o k fo r war d t o s e e in g
what t his o r ganiz at io n a c c o mp lis he s in t he ye ar s t o
c o me. A s fo r me, I am s t ill t r yin g t o f igur e o ut what
I want t o d o in t he f ut ur e, b ut I k n ow t hat I am we ll
o n my way t hank s t o Frie n d s of A lt a.
St ar t in g t hi s fall, vo lunte e r s will b e t raine d, s o
t hat a b a s e line b r e e din g bir d s ur vey c an s t ar t in
t he s p rin g. T he p r ot o c o l fo ll owe d by vo lunte e r s
c all s fo r dat a t o b e c o lle c te d at e a c h p oint (a grid
s ys te m wa s ove rlaye d o n t he s t u d y ar e a) at le a s t
o n c e durin g t he b r e e din g s e a s o n. In a d dit io n t o t he
b r e e din g bir d s ur veys, m o nt hly n o n-b r e e din g bir d
s ur veys b e gin t hi s fall.
Lo cal birders spo tted 28 bird species at o ur August “B ird
Walk” event wi th Tracy Aviary & Al ta Enviro nm ental Center
If yo u wo uld like m o r e info rmat io n o n t his s t ud y o r
wo uld like t o vo lunte e r, p le a s e e mail
c o n s e r vat io n@t ra c yaviar y.o r g
Alta is a State of Mind
|3
...c o n t i n u e d f r o m f r o n t p a g e
In light of M o unt ain Ac c o r d, F OA is c o n s ide rin g
c han ge s o c c urrin g b eyo n d t he s te e p wall s of A lt a
b e c au s e t h o s e de c is io n s af fe c t A lt a an d o ur abilit y t o
c arr y o ut o ur mi s s io n. T his p r o gram ha s highlighte d
t he la c k of quant it at ive dat a availab le fo r t he C e nt ral
Wa s at c h. T he ab s e n c e of s c ie nt if ic info rmat io n
r e gar din g nat ural e c o s ys te m s ha s n ot all owe d fo r
info rme d de c is io n mak in g an d analys i s t o date. F OA
will c o nt inue t o s up p o r t t his p r o gram wit h dat a f r o m
o ur e f fo r t s s uc h a s inva s ive we e d map pin g, p r ote c te d
lan d s, bir d s ur veys an d we t lan d info rmat io n. While
imp o r t ant, t his i s ju s t a t iny s live r of info rmat io n fo r
a s mall p o r t io n of t he s t ud y ar e a. A s ide nt if ie d in
t he Envir o nme nt Sys te m gr o up’s p r o p o s e d a c t io n s,
we s up p o r t t hat Pha s e 2 of M o unt ain Ac c o r d in c lude
a b a s e line e nvir o nme nt al inve nt o r y of t he C e nt ral
Wa s at c h an d t he imp le me nt at io n of a m o nit o rin g
p r o gram an d a dapt ive mana ge me nt p lan. T his will
he lp u s e xamine e c o l o gic al imp a c t s f r o m c limate
c han ge, a d dit io nal deve l o p me nt, an d c han ge s in
t ran s it m o de s. We, a s s tewar d s, mu s t maint ain
he alt hy e c o s ys te m s, wate r quant it y an d qualit y,
r e c r e at io n e xp e rie n c e s, an d t he ae s t he t ic c hara c te r
of t he c anyo n s – t he r e is o nly o ne A lt a! B e t we e n a
p r o p o s e d s k i int e r c o nne c t, a d dit io nal inf ra s t r u c t ur e
an d p r oje c te d gr ow t h in t he valley we ar e N OT
gr owin g m o r e wil d p la c e s, we t lan d s an d habit at s.
F OA ha s always p ride d it s e lf in un de r s t an din g
t hat t he t own of A lt a mu s t maint ain it s e c o n o mic
viabilit y. We s up p o r t o ur c o mmunit y ’s b u s ine s s e s in
t he ir abilit y t o mat ur e in a manne r t hat e n c o ura ge s
s u s t ainabilit y an d r e t ain s A lt a’s unique c hara c te r.
T he r e ar e nume r o u s m o unt ain t own s of fe rin g
vario u s leve l s of s e r vic e; we b e lieve t hat A lt a’s
nic he, e mb o d yin g a quie t an d le s s deve l o p e d
c harm p r ovide s valuab le e c o n o mic b e ne f it . Muc h
of A lt a’s unique ne s s is e mb e d de d in o ur s e n s e of
p la c e – t he t o p of L it t le C ot t o nwo o d C anyo n (LC C).
Sur e, t he r e ar e imp r ove me nt s t o ma s s t ran s it an d
pub lic s afe t y t hat s h o uld b e imp le me nte d in LC C , b ut
o ur s e n s e of p la c e i s int imate ly t ie d wit h LC C b e in g
a de a d- e n d c anyo n. While a t ran s it inte r c o nne c t t o
B ig C ot t o nwo o d C anyo n an d Park Cit y c o uld of fe r
new e c o n o mic o p p o r t unit ie s, we b e lieve t hat A lt a’s
b u s ine s s e s s h o uld t ake a d vant a ge of t he unique ne s s
p r e s e nte d by b e in g at t he e n d of line.
O ne Wa s at c h is a c o n c e pt t o c o nne c t t he 7 C e nt ral
Wa s at c h s k i r e s o r t s u s in g at le a s t 6 new s k i lif t s.
Pr o p o s e d c o nne c t io n s wo uld b e c r e ate d b e t we e n
A lt a an d S o lit ude via G riz zly G ulc h; Park Cit y an d
B right o n via G uar d s man’s Pa s s; an d C anyo n s an d
Park Cit y. T he c o n c e pt wa s deve l o p e d by Sk i Ut ah
wit h s up p o r t f r o m t he 7 s k i r e s o r t s. We s u s p e c t t hat
t he r e c e nt s hif t s in owne r s hip of 3 o ut of 7 s k i ar e a s
will gr e at ly in c r e a s e t he fo r c e s pu s hin g fo r O ne
Wa s at c h. We k n ow t hat yo u - o ur FR IENDS - l ove
A lt a’s quie t an d ‘ le s s deve l o p e d ’ c harm, an d d o n’ t
want t o s e e A lt a r uine d by deve l o p me nt in c e nt ivize d
by s uc h a c o nne c t io n. T he r e ar e many wh o want
t o ke e p A lt a, A LTA , an d de s ir e a c o mmunit y whe r e
it i s all ab o ut s k iin g an d e nj oyin g t he nat ural
e nvir o nme nt . We ar e c o n c e rne d t hat t hat if O ne
Wa s at c h mate rialize s, it wo uld gra dually de s t r oy
what make s A lt a s o rar e an d valuab le.
O f ut m o s t imp o r t an c e, we want t o r e p o r t t hat o ur
laws uit a gain s t t he St ate En gine e r ’s de c i s io n t o all ow
wate r right s t o b e t ran s fe rr e d up -s t r e am t o dr y l ot s
in A lbio n B a s in f r o m t he b a s e of LC C is p r o c e e din g.
T his is a f ight wo r t h f ight in g. If we we r e t o l o s e
in c o ur t, A lbio n B a s in an d A lt a, wo uld fo r eve r b e
c han ge d by t he e n s uin g deve l o p me nt . Ple a s e s e e
t he ar t ic le o n t he ne x t p a ge fo r m o r e info rmat io n.
We want t o r e ite rate t hat Frie n d s of A lt a is F O R
p r ote c t io n of t he wate r s he d an d views he d, F O R o p e n
s p a c e an d human p owe r e d r e c r e at io n o p p o r t unit ie s,
an d F O R t he unique ne s s of A lt a. D ue t o ant ic ip ate d
ne gat ive imp a c t s o n t he e nvir o nme nt an d wate r
qualit y, view-s he d, an d r e c r e at io n, we o p p o s e a
t ran s it inte r c o nne c t wit h B ig C ot t o nwo o d C anyo n/
Park Cit y an d o p p o s e a s k i inte r c o nne c t via G riz zly
G ulc h. At t his t ime, t he r e ar e n o fo rmal p r o p o s al s
fo r t he s e c o n c e pt s b ut we ar e a c t ive ly e n ga ge d in
M o unt ain Ac c o r d an d ar e ke e pin g a wat c hf ul eye
o ut . We al s o c o nt inue o ur lan d c o n s e r vat io n wo rk ,
an d ar e ve r y e xc ite d t o ann o un c e t hat we have ju s t
pur c ha s e d an ot he r p ar c e l in t he b a s in. We a s k f o r
yo ur f in an c ial s up p o r t s o t h at we c an c o nt inu e
t o p r o t e c t an d c o n s e r ve A l t a’s e nvir o nm e nt
an d c h arac t e r.
M eet B ec k y H o lt, F O A B o a r d M em b er
G r owin g up in S alt L ake Cit y, I s p e nt t ime wit h
my family c ampin g, hik in g, an d s k iin g in L it t le
C ot t o nwo o d C anyo n. T he Wa s at c h wa s o ur
b a c k yar d. A f te r at te n din g c o lle ge in up s t ate N ew
Yo rk , I r e t urne d t o Ut ah in 20 05, wo rk in g in t he
dinin g r o o m at A lt a L o d ge. I inte n de d t o o nly s t ay
o ne winte r b e fo r e m ovin g o n. H oweve r, o ne s e a s o n
t urne d int o s eve ral. I s p e nt s ub s e que nt s e a s o n s
wo rk in g in t he A lf En ge n Sk i S c h o o l O f f ic e an d t he
Sk i T ic ke t O f f ic e wit h A lt a L if t s C o., while ke e pin g
up s o me s hif t s at A lt a L o d ge he r e an d t he r e. I s p e nt
t he of f-s e a s o n t rave lin g ar o un d t he c o unt r y an d
ab r o a d, b ut t he fall wo uld b rin g me b a c k t o Ut ah fo r
an ot he r s k i s e a s o n. A s I t rave le d an d live d in vario u s dif fe r e nt p la c e s,
I r e alize d t hat S alt L ake Cit y i s p ar t ic ularly unique
b e c au s e of it s unp aralle le d a c c e s s t o t he o ut d o o r s
an d p r ote c te d p ub lic lan d s. F o r t his r e a s o n, I
m ove d b a c k t o S alt L ake Cit y f ull t ime in 20 0 9
an d at te n de d t he Unive r s it y of Ut ah, S. J. Q uinney
C o lle ge of L aw. T hr o ugh o ut law s c h o o l, A lt a wa s t he
l o c al e s c ap e, whe t he r fo r p r e - c la s s p owde r r un s in
t he r e s o r t o r hik in g ar o un d t he s ide c o unt r y o n t he
we e ke n d s. I me t my hu s b an d C ame r o n in law s c h o o l,
b ut it wa s t he c arp o o lin g up L it t le C ot t o nwo o d, lif t
ride s at A lt a, an d b e e r s at t he Sit zmark in t he A lt a
L o d ge whe r e we g ot t o k n ow e a c h ot he r. I gra duate d
f r o m law s c h o o l in 2011 an d c urr e nt ly p ra c t ic e wit h
L e ar & L e ar, L L P, a b o ut ique nat ural r e s o ur c e s f irm
in S alt L ake Cit y, s p e c ializin g in oil an d ga s law.
C ame r o n an d I live ne ar d ownt own S alt L ake Cit y,
an d b ot h value t he abilit y t o live wit hin f ive minute s
of o ur of f ic e s an d fo r t y minute s f r o m A lt a an d ot he r
de s t inat io n s in t he Wa s at c h. A lt a is p ar t ic ularly dis t in c t ive fo r it s ric h hi s t o r y an d
vib rant c o mmunit y, a s we ll a s it s un deve l o p e d p ub lic
o p e n s p a c e t hat p r ovide s fo r ye ar r o un d r e n owne d
r e c r e at io n o p p o r t unit ie s, p r ot e c t e d wil dlife habit at,
an d a nat ural r e t r e at f r o m t he c it y fo r t he pub lic
t o e nj oy in a d dit io n t o s e r vin g a vit al e c o n o mic
f un c t io n a s a wate r s he d fo r t he r e s ide nt s of t he S alt
L ake Valley. It is imp o r t ant t hat t he s e dis t in c t ive
c hara c te ris t ic s ar e fa c t o r e d int o t he M o unt ain
Ac c o r d de c i s io n-mak in g p r o c e s s in o r de r t o p r e s e r ve
t he “A lt a E xp e rie n c e” fo r f ut ur e ge ne rat io n s. T he
M o unt ain Ac c o r d i s a p ub lic p r o c e s s an d I e n c o ura ge
yo u t o ge t invo lve d in t he c o nve r s at io n an d vis it
t he ir we b s ite at mountainaccord.com/get-involved
to s ub mit yo ur own c o mme nt s r e gar din g yo ur vis io n
fo r t he f ut ur e of t he C e nt ral Wa s at c h.
Sin c e r e ly,
Mimi L evit t &
J e n C lan c y
“ Ro mant i c A l t a” J o e C r ill y
2|
Preserving the Nature of Alta I’m p r o ud t o b e a b o ar d me mb e r wit h Frie n d s of
A lt a fo r t he unique o p p o r t unit y it p r e s e nt s t o b e a
p ar t of p r e s e r vin g an d maint ainin g t he c hara c te r
an d he rit a ge of A lt a a s we ll a s fo r it s r e c r e at io n
o p p o r t unit ie s an d nat ural an d s c e nic r e s o ur c e s.
A s a r e p r e s e nt at ive fo r Frie n d s of A lt a wit hin t he
Ec o n o my Sys te m gr o up of M o unt ain Ac c o r d, I have
b e e n at te n din g m o nt hly me e t in g s wit h vario u s ot he r
s t ake h o lde r s in an d ar o un d A lt a an d t he b r o a de r
C e nt ral Wa s at c h r e gio n t o c r e ate a f ramewo rk fo r
f ut ur e e c o n o mic deve l o p me nt in t he r e gio n. A s
p ar t of t he p r o c e s s we ar e ide nt if yin g ar e a s t hat
ar e s uit ab le fo r deve l o p me nt in o r de r t o at t ra c t
t o uris t s t o t he r e gio n a s we ll a s s up p o r t t he ne e d s
of a gr owin g l o c al p o p ulat io n, wit h t he g o al of
c o nne c t in g t he s e l o c at io n s wit h an e f f ic ie nt an d
r e liab le t ran s p o r t at io n ne t wo rk . It ha s b e e n a
p o s it ive e xp e rie n c e, an d e xc it in g t o b e a p ar t of
t he l o n g-te rm p lannin g fo r t he r e gio n o n b e half of
Frie n d s of A lt a an d a s a S alt L ake Cit y r e s ide nt wh o
is inte r e s te d in r e s p o n s ib le gr ow t h while p r e s e r vin g
t he qualit y of life an d nat ural r e s o ur c e s of t he
Wa s at c h. L o c al s k i e r Par ke r C o o k e nj oy s t h e
wo r l d r e n own e d p owd e r in A l t a by L e e C o h e n
Alta is a State of Mind
|7
E rni the Erm ine
Nov. 2014. Issue no.10. Biannual
We are pleased to introduce our new
furry friend, Erni the Ermine.
At $30 this local animal of Al ta
makes a great holiday gi ft for
kids and adul ts alike!
Purchase one today at
friendsofal ta.org/support/merchandise
Me mo r i a l T r e e P ro gra m
In September we planted 6
Memorial Trees in honor of:
Peter Abbal le
Mark B ernhard
Harry W B erkowi tz
Katie Kuhn
B renda Price
George Swick
If you would like to plant a
tree in memory of a loved
one, please contact us.
Gifts with Benefits
Local photographer John B lumenkamp of Teton Trail
Photography donates 50% of the net
proceeds from the online Albion B asin Gal lery
to FOA: john-blumenkamp.artistwebsi tes.com/art/
al l/albion+basin/al l
Alta Shuttle
2% of al l Al ta Shuttle services to/from the Town of
Al ta during the winter are donated to FOA.
Special thanks to Al ta Shuttle, Tom, the shuttle
drivers, and Al ta Shuttle’s patrons for supporting
FOA. Please visi t al tashuttle.com
T hank you
t o our
Summe r
Steward s hip
Eve nt
Par tne r s
Ruby O’ G r a d y- Ent wi s t l e, an A l t a S c h o o l
s t u d e nt h e lp s A l t a Env ir o nm e nt al C e nt e r
r eve g e t at e t h e b a s e ar e a wi t h nat i ve s p e c i e s
Stay Connected! Like us on Facebook and
sign up for our Photo of the Month Club and/or
Monthly Updates. Email info@friendsofal ta.org
Up c oming Eve nt s
L ove U t ah G ive U t ah
T hur s day, Mar c h 26t h, 2015
9 t h A nnu al A l t a G al a
Friday, A p ril 3r d, 2015
Sup p o r t in g F OA , AC E an d
t he A lt a His t o ric al S o c ie t y
Fr ie n d s o f A l t a
Re al E s t at e Ad vant a g e
Pr o gram
M e nt io n t hi s p r o gram t o
b r o ke r Jim William s an d he
will d o nate $1,0 0 0 t o F OA
f r o m hi s c o mmi s s io n wit h t he c l o s ur e of a r e al
e s t ate t ran s a c t io n. Ple a s e he lp F OA by s harin g
t his unique p r o gram an d it s b e ne f it s.
Board of Directors
Mimi Levitt; UT, President
Tim Hogen; CT, Vice President
Skip Silloway; UT, Treasurer & VP
Richard Thomas; UT, Secretary
Nicholas C Besobrasov; CA, UT
Peter Corroon; UT
Sheridan Davis; UT
Cassie Dippo; UT
John Holland; NY
Becky Holt; UT
Peg Kramer; PA, UT
Chris Mikell; UT
Bruce Shand; UT
Counsel
Patrick A. Shea
Advisory Committee
Albert Andrews, Jr.; MN
David Arnold III; MA
Brad Barber; SLC, UT
Jayne Belnap, PhD; UT
Gene Bliss, MD; UT
Skip Branch; UT
Laura McIndoe Briefer; UT
Margot & Fred Churchill; MA
Michael Goldstein, MD; MA
Shannon Gordon; WA
Jack Hoag; MA
Barbara Hoffman; NY
Austin Hoyt; MA
Felicity Forbes Hoyt; MA
Loren Kroenke; UT
Fay Michener; NY
Jeff Niermeyer; UT
Felix G Rohatyn; NY
Dick Schatten; CT
Elfriede Shane; UT
In Memoriam
Bill Levitt, 1917 – 2009
Friends of Alta
PO Box 8126
Alta, UT 84092
Jen Clancy, Executive Director
cell (801) 742-9719
jen@friendsofalta.org
The Mission of Friends of Alta is to protect the environment of Alta, including watershed
and wildlife habitat areas; to preserve Alta’s unique character and heritage; and to
encourage stewardship and sustainability of Alta’s environment and community.
www.friendsofalta.org
Cover Photo by John Frawley
Preserving the Nature of Alta
D e ar Frie n d s,
T he r e c e nt m o nt h s have b e e n ove r whe lmin g wit h c han ge s in t he Ut ah s k i
in du s t r y. M o unt ain Ac c o r d, O ne Wa s at c h, an d s k i ar e a c o n s o lidat io n s ar e
r o llin g al o n g at light nin g s p e e d. Vail n ow c o nt r o l s C anyo n s an d Park Cit y,
D e e r Valley b o ught S o lit ude, an d Ian Cummin g, fo rme r owne r of Park Cit y
M o unt ain Re s o r t, p ur c ha s e d a c o nt r o llin g inte r e s t in Sn owbir d. Pe r c he d a s
it is in t he C e nt ral Wa s at c h, A lt a’s c o mmunit y s it s in a p r e c ario u s p o s it io n
wit h r e gar d t o s k i an d t ran s it inte r c o nne c t s.
F OA s t af f an d B o ar d me mb e r s have b e e n e n ga ge d in t he M o unt ain Ac c o r d
p r o gram s in c e it s in c e pt io n. M o unt ain Ac c o r d is a r e gio nal p lannin g e f fo r t
t o a d dr e s s t he t ran s p o r t at io n, r e c r e at io n, e c o n o mic , an d e nvir o nme nt al
s ys te m s of t he C e nt ral Wa s at c h M o unt ain s. While t he fo c al p oint of t he
p lannin g e f fo r t i s t he m o unt ain o u s ar e a s of t he Wa s at c h Fr o nt an d B a c k ,
t he s t ud y ar e a e x te n d s b eyo n d t he fo ot hill s s o t hat p r o p o s e d t ran s it a c t io n s
inte grate wit h s urr o un din g p lannin g e f fo r t s an d in c lude a c o nne c t io n t o
t he airp o r t . To date, t he fo ur s ys te m gr o up s have d o c ume nte d b a s e line
c o n dit io n s, an d c r e ate d vis io n, g o al s an d me t ric s fo r t he ir ide al “p e r fe c t
wo rld” s c e nario s. T he M o unt ain Ac c o r d E xe c ut ive C o mmit te e will c o n s ide r
e a c h s ys te m’s r e c o mme n dat io n s a s t hey h o ne in o n a p r e fe rr e d s c e nario
an d/o r in dividual r e c o mme n dat io n s t o analy ze in f ur t he r de t ail. Pha s e 2 of
t his e f fo r t will m o s t like ly in c lu de NEPA an d m o r e pub lic an d s t ake h o lde r
invo lve me nt . H oweve r, we e n c o ura ge yo u t o b e invo lve d n ow, p le a s e
g o o nline an d p r ovide c o mme nt s by Januar y 5t h. While F OA an d ot he r
s t ake h o lde r s ar e e n ga ge d in t he p r o c e s s, we ne e d o ur de s ir e d f ut ur e fo r
t he C e nt ral Wa s at c h t o b e he ar d l o ud an d c le ar.