Laramie—Citing unacceptable threats to aquatic habitats for declining and imperiled amphibians, the Forest Service has withdrawn its approval of a controversial ski area expansion in the Snowy Range west of Laramie. 

“Ski area development shouldn’t come at the expense of forest wildlife,” said Jeremy Nichols with Biodiversity Conservation Alliance.  “We need balanced management, and that’s exactly what this appeal win achieves.” 

If approved, the proposal would have allowed the Snowy Range Ski Area west of Laramie to increase its snow making capacity by taking more water from local streams in the Medicine Bow National Forest.  The increase in snow making in turn would have led to more water withdrawals from Nash Fork Creek, which feeds the Little Laramie River.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, water withdrawals would have drained creek flows to a low of only 0.3 cubic feet per second in the winter time, a nearly 80% decrease in existing flows.  The table below, which is from the Forest Service’s own environmental analysis shows how stream flows would be reduced during the winter months. 

We are concerned about the potential for reduced winter stream flows if the existing water right is fully utilized for snowmaking.  Based on reported stream flows for February, stream flow could be reduced by as much as 96% if the full water right (601 gallons per minute) was utilized.  The game species present are fall spawners and this reduction in stream flow could impact egg survival. 

And in particular, under the Forest Service’s long-range management plan for the Medicine Bow National Forest, the agency cannot allow any loss or degradation of habitat for wood frog and boreal toad, both imperiled amphibians that are on the brink of extinction in the Southern Rocky Mountains.  Both amphibians are considered indicators of stream health.  Stream flow losses in the winter would have degraded habitat for the wood frog and boreal toad and pushed the wildlife closer to the brink. 

“As indicators of stream health, we can’t afford to leave sensitive amphibians without any protection,” said Nichols.  “It’s a shame the Forest Service failed in this case to follow through with its commitment to protect these wildlife.”

Biodiversity Conservation Alliance challenged the Forest Service’s approval of the decision last June, filing an administrative appeal with Mary Peterson, Supervisor of the Medicine Bow National Forest.  The appeal challenged the failure of the Forest Service to ensure adequate stream flows to protect wildlife and fish habitat, including habitat needed to recover populations of wood frog and boreal toad.  The Supervisor agreed and reversed the decision.  The Snowy Range Ski Area expansion is on hold. 

Jeremy Nichols, Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, (303) 437-7663