Environmental Considerations

Kenneth MacDonald, Environmental Manager - International Division of Newfields, located in Las Vegas, Nevada has been commissioned by Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort to inventory and document the environmental conditions of the summer and winter facilities as they relate to the proposed Master Plan. Their findings are summarized as follows.

Environmental Setting

The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort in Lee Canyon is located in upper Lee Canyon within the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Clark County, Nevada, Sections 10 and 15, T19S, R56E.

The project area is located in the Montane Zone in the Spring Mountains, most of which occurs in a single block about Mount Charleston and its high connecting ridges. The Montane Zone contains large woodlands of mountain-mahogany, mixed conifer forests. The forest begins at about 2,290 meters. By 2,590 meters, these forests also include limber pine (Pinus flexilis), bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) in the overstory, and common juniper (Juniperus communis) in the understory. Small aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands occur above about 2,378 meters.

Botanical Resources

The elevation range of the project area is 2595-2775 meters (8650-9250 feet). The plant community of the proposed project areas includes three plant associations:

The White fir-ponderosa pine-curlleaf mountain mahogany Association (Abies concolor-Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum-Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus), is characterized by the following; elevation ranges from 2160-2830 meters (7,086 - 9,284 feet), prevalent vegetation is woodland and occasionally a forest dominated by a mix of conifers and evergreens, the dominant plants are Abies concolor and Pinus ponderosa.

The second association within the White fir-ponderosa pine-curlleaf mountain mahogany series is the Quaking aspen-white fir Association (Populus tremuloides- Abie concolor). This association is characterized by the following; elevation ranges from 2340-2930 meters (7,677 - 9,612 feet), prevalent vegetation being woodland and occasionally a forest dominated by a mix of conifers and cold-deciduous and evergreen trees.

The Limber pine-white fir Series (Pinus flexilis-Abies concolor), is characterized by the following; elevation ranges from 530-3130 meters (1,738 - 10,269 feet), prevalent vegetation being woodland and occasionally a forest or sparse woodland, dominated by a mix of conifers.

Wildlife Resources

Based on these field visits, the proposed project areas were determined to contain potentially suitable habitat for 19 sensitive wildlife species, including: six butterfly species, three bird species, and ten mammal species.

Non-native wild and feral horses are known to occur in the project vicinity. Horses access the LVSSR and project area through breaches in an existing exclusionary fence. Wild horses may have detrimental effect on native habitat and species through overgrazing, habitat trampling, grazing on sensitive species and plants that host both larval and adult sensitive butterfly species, and spread of noxious weeds.

Sensitive Species

No species designated as threatened and endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act are known to occur within the project area. A number of sensitive species occur within the Master Plan area and in the Spring Mountains. Sensitive species are defined as those on the Regional Forester's Region 4 list, Species of Concern listed in the Conservation Agreement for the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Covered Species listed in the Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP), and species protected under the Nevada Revised Statutes.

Biodiversity Hotspot

The Master Plan project area occurs within the 2,997.3-acre Very High Priority Upper Lee Canyon Biodiversity Hotspot. Areas with high biodiversity and/or a number of species of concern called "biodiversity hotspots" are protected. Biodiversity hotspots are defined in the MSHCP and identified within the CA. The 1996 Forest Plan directs avoidance of species of concern and their habitats within these areas.

Environmental Stewardship

The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort (LVSSR) has an established record as a responsible steward of environmental resources within the Special Use Permit area. They have been conducting sensitive biological species surveys for the past few years and have actively engaged in a 6-year process to restore and rehabilitate native habitat with an emphasis on sensitive plant species. In spring and summer 2007, which is the third year of their Adaptive Management Vegetation Plan, they will be continuing with collection of native seeds and funding seed propagation as well as conducting soils and fertilizer trials. Different erosion control techniques and various replanting strategies will be evaluated. They will also conducting surveys for sensitive plants, butterfly species and butterfly host plants, as well as continued surveys for hawks and owls.

During implementation of this Master Plan, LVSSR would continue to safely provide organized commercial winter sports and other outdoor recreation opportunities in compliance with the US Forest Service Spring Mountain National Recreation Area (USFS SMNRA) Plan objectives and the standards and guidelines for USFS Management Area 11-Developed Canyons, where LVSSR is located.

The following select objectives and guidelines are either applicable SMNRA-wide or Area 11 direction.

In addition, this project is intended to be compatible with specific USFS-wide and Developed Canyons' biological objectives, including the responsibility to maintain or enhance ecosystem health, function, sustainability, and diversity (plant, animal, and community).

Regulatory Guidance

The USFS management direction for the area, including the LVSSR, is complex due to the number of management plans and agreements in place and the manner in which they interact. Oversight and guidance for each element of the Master Plan is expected to be provided in specific portions of the following key management documents:

Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, September 2000

Conservation Agreement for the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, April 13, 1998

This agreement was signed by the Director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; the Regional Forester of the Forest Service's Intermountain Region; and the Regional Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific Region.

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area Biodiversity Hotspots and Management Recommendations, December 1994