Heavenly Epic Discovery Project at Lake Tahoe clears big hurdle with TRPA board approval
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Fri, 03/27/2015 - 9:35am
In what would give Heavenly Mountain Resort more latitude for expanded activities, the Governing Board of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency on Thursday unanimously approved the resort's proposed Epic Discovery Project to allow new year-round outdoor recreational opportunities on already developed portions of the ski area on U.S. Forest Service land.
“The Epic Discovery Project represents an exciting, collaborative model for sustainable recreation that successfully balances environmental preservation and education with economic revitalization and improved outdoor recreational opportunities, all consistent with TRPA’s Regional Plan,” said Joanne S. Marchetta, Executive Director of TRPA.
The project is scheduled to be considered for approval by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board in May, and the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has issued a draft record of decision to approve the project.
If also approved by the two agencies with jurisdiction, the Epic Discovery Project will be among the first of its kind in the nation, following Congress’s passage of the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011 that allows ski resorts operating on Forest Service land to offer expanded year-round recreational opportunities.
The expanded activities at Heavenly Mountain Resort are designed to suit a wide range of visitors. They include zipline and sky cycle tree canopy tours, a mountain bike park and trails, ropes courses, and interpretive and educational tours to teach visitors about the Lake Tahoe Region’s cultural and environmental resources.
The following activities proposed in the plan are:
— At Adventure Peak: Mid-Station Zipline Canopy Tour, Sky Cycle Canopy Tour, Forest Flyer Alpine Coaster, Smaller Infill Activities and Interpretive Activities at Tamarack Lodge.
— At East Peak Basin: Mountain Bike Park, East Peak Zipline Canopy Tour, East Peak Reservoir Water Activities, Interpretive Activities at East Peak Lodge and the East Peak Lodge Hiking Trail.
— At Sky Meadows Basin: Sky Meadows Zipline Canopy Tour, Sky Meadows Challenge Course, Ridge Run Lookout Tower and Observation Deck, Interpretive Activities at Sky Deck.
Mountainwide Educational Opportunities and Interpretive Information, Mountain Excursion Tour, Connecting Trails (Panorama Trail to connect East Peak Lake area to Tahoe Rim Trail and Van Sickle Park), Emergency Gondola Snow Cat Evacuation Route.
“We’re hoping to create new friends of the forest by teaching people about Lake Tahoe’s extraordinary natural environment through this project,” said Andrew Strain, Vice President of Planning and Governmental Affairs for Heavenly Mountain Resort.
TRPA approved the Heavenly Epic Discovery Project following an extensive environmental review process. One of the Agency’s mandates is to improve outdoor recreational opportunities in the Lake Tahoe Region.
The environmental review for the Epic Discovery Project was completed by TRPA, Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, and U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
The final EIR/EIS document is available online here. Hard copies of the documents are available at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, 35 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe; TRPA, 128 Market Street in Stateline; Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, 2501 Lake Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe; El Dorado County Library South Lake Tahoe Branch, 1000 Rufus Allen Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe; and Douglas County Library Lake Tahoe Branch, 233 Warrior Way in Zephyr Cove.
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