Established in 2008 to guide the Alta Ski Resort’s sustainability efforts and look after the natural environment in which they operate, The Alta Environmental Center‘s sustainability mission is simple: To protect and improve the well-being of Alta’s environment, ski industry and community.
Situated at the very end of Little Cottonwood Canyon on 2,500 acres of National Forest Service Land, Alta operates under a special use permit granted by the United States Forest Service (USFS) in 1938. Under this agreement, the resort collaborates closely with the USFS and various stakeholders to achieve shared management goals of the forest.
One such goal is to restore natural vegetation to the slope we ski every winter and Alta Environmental Center just received a major shipment towards that end. Yesterday was “Plant Pickup Day” and 10,572 native plant seedlings from 28 natives species were delivered to the base of the mountain where they will be nurtured under a close eye until they are put into the ground over the coming summer months.
A wide variety of seedlings will be planted at Alta over the course of the summer but some of our personal favorites are Engelmann spruce and Douglas fir (very cool trees). If you are interested in getting your hands dirty and planting some seedlings at Alta this summer, consider joining one of their monthly Community Volunteer Days where folks can participate in essential restoration work alongside experts from Alta Environmental Center and local nonprofit partners while learning about ongoing conservation efforts in the Wasatch. Community Volunteer Days happen monthly every first Wednesday. Registration is required so don’t forget to sign up here.
The Alta Environmental Center (AEC)Â Commitment:
The AEC guides Alta Ski Area to become better stewards of the environment—both within our operations and abroad. As a vital part of Alta’s economic and social foundation, we recognize that our skiers and the local community look to us to responsibly manage the private and public lands on which we operate.
In addition to our internal initiatives, we actively engage with local, national and global communities to identify opportunities where we can contribute to broader efforts for the common good. As stewards of our privately owned and Forest Service permitted lands, we are committed to addressing the challenges posed by increased visitation, development and growth in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
The AEC’s day-to-day work includes three primary duties:
-Pursue sustainability within the ski area through the conservation of energy, water, land and business
-Serve as a resource to our community to encourage sustainability initiatives through partnerships and stewardshipÂ
-Foster environmental education and research through internal and third-party collaboration
