Environmental Programs

"Squaw Valley is the most beautiful valley the eye
of man has ever beheld."

-Placer County Surveyor Thomas A. Young, 1856

Squaw Valley is a winner of the 2008 Waste Reduction and Award Program

For incorporating waste reduction, reuse, and recycling efforts into daily business activities, and steering the community along a path towards zero-waste and minimizing your eco-footprint. Squaw Valley receives an ‘A’ on 2008/2009 Ski Area Environmental Scorecard and scores among TOP 5 Resorts The Ski Area Citizens' Coalition works to ensure that ski area management decisions, either by the Forest Service, the ski companies, or local governments, are responsive to the needs of real environmental protection, local communities, and the skiing public. The Ski Area Environmental Scorecard is the only non-industry, independent mechanism that gives skiers and boarders a way to assess the environmental performance of their favorite resorts. By choosing environmentally friendly ski areas, you can encourage all resorts to improve their policies. Read more: http://www.newwest.net/snow_blog/article/western_ski_resorts_improve_environmental_marks/C458/L41/

Squaw Valley is proud to be a Waste Reduction Awards Program Winner! Learn more !

Squaw Valley USA, and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains, provide one of the most spectacular settings in the world. However, the privilege of access is accompanied by a responsibility to preserve many of the areas fragile ecosystems. Squaw Valley Ski Corp. takes this responsibility very seriously and is committed to utilizing new ways to preserve the surroundings in which we live, work and play.

To complement Squaw Valley’s current environmental programs, in June of 2000, the Ski Corp joined many other resorts across the country in adopting the National Ski Areas Association’s (NSAA) Environmental Charter – Sustainable Slopes. The Charter includes a set of voluntary principals for protection of the alpine areas in which resorts operate, and it formalizes the industry’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The vision behind this effort encourages resorts to be leaders among outdoor recreation providers, managing their businesses in a way that demonstrates their commitment to environmental protection and stewardship while meeting the expectations of the public. The formalization of Squaw Valley’s environmental improvement goals and procedures aims to restore and protect this recreational environment, and to ensure the health and quality of the immediate surroundings.

Each year Squaw Valley USA continues to implement steps toward the completion of a twelve-year environmental improvement initiative with ongoing programs, research, and new plans for the future.

There are many things that you can do to help! Click here for some easy ways to help Squaw Valley USA contribute to a pristine mountain environment. Also, check out the National Ski Area Association's new campaign "Keep Winter Cool".

Squaw Valley's Environmental Values
"The environment is our asset. A beautiful and pristine mountain experience brings our guests and employees to Squaw Valley. It is our duty to make every effort to protect that experience."

-Nancy Wendt, President of Squaw Valley Ski Corp.

Environmental Policies
The Environmental Charter has three basic components:
1. Planning, Design and Construction
2. Operations
3. Education

Within each of these components are environmental principles, encompassing efficient energy and water use, water quality management and preservation of wetlands and riparian areas. Further, the Environmental Charter outlines methods for achieving those principles or "options for getting there."

Of the many action items outlined in the Charter, Squaw Valley Ski Corp. has concentrated its efforts on the following principals. These include:

Education & Outreach
Because of their setting in an outdoor, natural environment and the clear connection between that natural environment and the guest experience, ski areas have an excellent opportunity to take a leadership role in environmental education and in enhancing the environmental awareness of their guests, surrounding communities, and employees.

Each spring, Squaw Valley USA helps raise environmental awareness as host to the annual Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival. Additionally Squaw Valley USA donates a children’s season pass to the winner of the Push, Pull or Pedal Eco Parade where kids build eco-conscious modes of transportation which they ride in a parade through the Village. In 2008-09 Squaw Valley USA donated $1,975 worth of lift tickets to an environmental non-profit called Life More Natural. Life More Natural has an Action Rewards volunteer program through which Squaw Valley’s donated lift tickets helped them create 420 hours of environmental community service this winter. http://lifemorenatural.com/?page_id=259 In 2008-09 Squaw Valley USA developed a program through Sierra Pacific’s utility energy efficiency and conservation department to provide 6,000 CFLs to Squaw Valley’s 1200 employees for free. The curlicue shaped bulbs use less electricity than conventional incandescent bulbs and last much longer and helped Squaw Valley employees reduce their electric bills and their carbon footprints. Squaw donated $1,000 in March 2009 to the Tahoe Earth Day Foundation, a non-profit organization that educates the general public on environmental issues regarding the Lake Tahoe and Truckee region’s unique beauty, and how to preserve and protect it. The means of providing such education includes, but is not limited to, regional Earth Day Festivals that will include environmental and educational booths with focus areas on watershed health, forest health, pollution prevention, alternative energy and waste management. It has also been created to recognize and celebrate the work of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin whose creation of the first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970 eventually lead to national legislation such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. For more information, visit www.TahoeTruckeeEarthDay.org.Squaw Valley Ski Corp contributed to the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation. As a founding member Ski Corp. has continued its commitment to the Foundation which includes a Nature Fund. This year Squaw Valley’s Marketing Director wrote a letter to the Foundation asking that our annual contribution go to the Nature Fund. Contributions to the Nature Fund directly support local organizations that restore and protect Lake Tahoe’s precious environment. Squaw Valley’s donations will support the creation of open spaces to enjoy, wildlife corridors to allow deer, bears, and other species to thrive, clean waters in Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River, and raising environmental awareness amongst the community and to urge visitors and citizens to honor and respect nature. www.ttcf.net. In July of 2009 Squaw Valley USA donated to the Desert Research Institute to help with research programs focused on water resources, air quality, and global climate change and working toward sustainable living. The Institute is based in nearby Northern Nevada, as are many of its research projects. Efforts to get involved in the local community are exemplified through participation in local community environmental programs such as Friends of Squaw Creek and the Truckee River Watershed Council. Squaw donated funds to the Truckee River Watershed Council and participates with various events such as Truckee River Day. This includes sponsorship of highway clean up, hosted facility eco-tours, and involvement in Outreach events such as the Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival and Save Our Snow.

Community outreach programs include:

School Groups: Squaw Valley works with local school groups as part of their curriculum to learn about the resort’s Environmental Programs and about Safety.
Trash Pick-Up: Each summer, Squaw hosts resort-wide clean up to rid the mountain of trash before the snow flies again in the fall.
Highway Cleanup: Squaw Valley sponsors a three-mile section of Hwy 80 and sends staff throughout the summer to maintain the highway.
Facility Tours: Tours for local school children of Squaw’s Funitel and Children’s Center facilities, both boasting highly sophisticated geothermal and solar heating designs.
Truckee River Watershed Council: Squaw donates funds to this group and participates with carious committees and events such as Truckee River Day.
Winter Tours: Squaw has hosted several "Ski with a Ranger" days emphasizing the natural environment.
Summer Tours: Each summer Squaw hosts several Guided Hikes that educate guests about the flora, fauna, geology and natural wilderness of this region of the Sierra.

Energy & Water Use in Facilities
Ski areas can be leaders in implementing energy efficiency techniques and increasing the use of renewable energy sources within their operations to conserve natural resources, reduce pollution and greenhouse gases and reduce the potential impacts of climate change.

Squaw Valley Ski Corp. has implemented revolutionary technology to reduce energy use throughout its facilities in an effort to conserve energy and protect valuable natural resources.

In 2000 Squaw Valley replace the drive in the Cable Car which resulted in the significant reduction of kilowatt hours used by the popular lift. For the full story, click here.

The incineration process, used in Squaw Valley’s recycling efforts, is one of the most efficient ways to dispose of solid waste and reduces the amount of garbage sent to landfills. In addition, the heat generated as a by-product of the process is used to heat the Gold Coast complex, reducing the need for fossil fuels.

Hardy Herger, Squaw Valley’s Technical Consultant, has designed and implemented a geothermal heat pump system at the 12,000 square foot SquawKids Children's Center facility.

The heat pump system is the only one of its kind in the United States and uses the natural energy of the earth (heat stored beneath the earth’s surface) to heat water, which is subsequently used to heat the entire building.

[more on the heat pump system]

The Olympic Ice Pavilion utilizes the most technologically advanced refrigeration system of its kind. A state of the art heat exchanger freezes the ice of the Olympic Ice Pavilion while simultaneously heating the Swimming Lagoon & Spa, the surrounding decks and walkways and the interior of the High Camp Bath & Tennis Club.

The Gold Coast Funitel also uses a similar heat exchange system. The heat generated by the lift’s motors is used to heat the floor hydronics throughout the building, while cold air, a by product of the heat exchange system, is recycled back to the engine room to cool the motors.

Each season Squaw Valley conducts environmental audits in different areas. The resort is currently contracting an independent 3^rd party auditing of heating/energy use in all of the resort’s facilities, including the base area and on-mountain food & beverage facilities. With the data compiled through the Energy Use Audit, Squaw Valley made great progress in 2008-09 toward fully transitioning each facility to meet or exceed the standards of Title 24 by implementing efficiency retrofits to lighting, heating, insulation, and power supply in all restaurants, complexes, lifts and buildings. The Cable Car building (bottom terminal of Cable Car), the Funitel building (bottom terminal of the Funitel), High Camp Bath & Tennis Complex (top terminal of the Cable Car), the Gold Coast Complex (top terminal of the Funitel), and Squaw Kids Children’s Center, Olympic Village Lodge - corporate office building, the Olympic House and the upper and lower vehicle shops make up 100% of the resort’s facilities. Examples of Squaw Valley facilities that have had power, lighting, heating, and insulation retrofits: Cable Car Building: new efficient elevator, CFL Lights, insulated windowsAs of the 2007/08 season the Cable Car elevator, that holds up to 130 people and leaves every 15 minutes from the ground level to the 3^rd story platform where the Cable Car departs from, was upgraded to a more efficient system that uses 50% of the energy as the previous elevator. In 2007/08 the cable car building lighting was retrofitted with CFL lights bulbs. During the 2007/08 season (November through April), the CFL lights and new elevator in the Cable Car reduced the facility’s kWh usage by 50%. Gold Coast: retrofitted heat exchange system, efficient appliances, CFL Lights, insulated windowsIn 2008-09 the addition of the new ARC restaurant within the existing Gold Coast building brought with it a fully renovated heat exchange heating system, along with high efficiency appliances and light fixtures, as well as new insulated windows to the entire Gold Coast Complex. Not only did the ARC see new fixtures, the rest of the facilities within the Gold Coast Complex saw a replacement with higher efficiency fixtures. Renovation of the Gold Coast heating facility continues to divert waste from the land fill and reduces the Gold Coast complex annual energy consumption by 872,000 kWhs in 2008-09. Heating Retrofits
In 2008-09 Squaw Valley installed timers and variable speed motors on heating systems, cooling fans, heating fans, hot water pumps, thermostats in the Funitel Building, the Cable Car building, the Olympic House, the Olympic Village Lodge, the Gold Coast Complex, and the upper and lower vehicle shops. In 2008-09 retrofits to the Gold Coast Incinerator Heat Exchange System helped make the system 1.6 times more efficient (based on Nevada Energy data). Another major part of this initiative included the conversion to timed heating systems in which a timer comes on during operation hours and turns down (or off) after hours in 100% of the resort’s facilities. The resort’s heating systems were converted to timers in 2007. The resort saw a drop in kWh usage each month in 2007-08 from 2006-07. Gold Coast Complex Heat Exchange System
In 1990 an incinerator was installed in Squaw Valley’s mid-mountain lodge with the objective of reducing the amount of energy used in the busy Gold Coast Complex. The Gold Coast incinerator efficiently disposes of solid waste, reducing the amount of garbage sent to landfills. Furthermore, the heat that is generated is used to heat the Gold Coast complex, reducing the need for fossil fuels. As mentioned, the 2008-09 retrofits to the Gold Coast Incinerator Heat Exchange System made the system 1.6 times more efficient. The heat recovered through the incineration process now amounts to over 2,400,000 BTUs per hour, and heats the entire 35,000 sq. ft. Gold Coast Building, provides hot water for the facility’s kitchens and restaurants, as well as heating the hydronics for the 20,000 sq. ft. sun deck. The incinerator recovers 2,400,000 BTUs per hour and 1 BTU/hour = .00239 kW, the heat pump system’s capacity is 573.6 kilowatts. The incinerator that heats the boiler that provides heat for the 35,000 sq. ft. Gold Coast complex provides vast energy savings. The incinerator operates daily during winter operations. When the incinerator is in operation the electric water heater is not used, saving electrical consumption of 174,400 kWh per month, for 5 months. The retrofitted heat pump displaces approximately 872,000 kWh each year (up from 545,000 kWh each year in 2007-08). Ice Pavilion and Swimming Lagoon – Heat Exchange SystemCompressors The Olympic Ice Pavilion located at High Camp (el. 8,200’) utilizes the most technologically advanced refrigeration system of its kind. A state of the art heat exchanger freezes the ice in the Olympic Ice Pavilion while simultaneously heating the Swimming Lagoon & Spa, the surrounding decks and walkways and the interior of the High Camp Bath & Tennis Club. The cold air that is generated as a by-product of the heat exchange system is recycled back and used to cool the ice rink. Funitel – Compressors and Hydronic HeatingCompressors and hydronic heating in the Funitel building is yet another energy saving tactic that Squaw Valley has implemented. The heat from the compressors is used to heat water for hydronic flooring in the Funitel building and for snow melt. The cold air that is generated as a by-product of the heat exchange system is recycled back in the engine room to cool the motors. Power Retrofits
As early as 1980, Squaw Valley began installing power factor correction and harmonic filter units in the resort’s chairlifts, resulting in vast energy savings that continue to increase each summer when a lift motor is upgraded. In summer 2009 a new motor with a harmonic filter was installed in the High Camp Chair. The power compensation filters ensure that only the energy that is necessary to run the lifts is used and has resulted in a savings of over $3.8 million since the installation of these units began in 1980. Squaw Valley Ski Corp implements revolutionary technology in each of the resort’s facilities to reduce annual energy consumption. Examples of power supply retrofits include the installation of a Silicon Control Rectifier (SCR) motor to run the Cable Car, power compensation filters in all triple, quad, and 6-person chairlifts, a hydronic heat system driven by lift motors in the Funitel building, an incinerator that heats the Gold Coast complex, a heat exchange system that freezes the ice in the Olympic Ice Pavilion while simultaneously heating the Swimming Lagoon & Spa and surrounding walkways at High Camp, as well as a geothermal heat pump that heats the 12,000 sq. ft. Squaw Kids Children’s Center facility. Cable Car Silicon Controlled Rectifier (S.C.R.)
In December 2000 Squaw Valley installed a more energy efficient motor to run the 120 person Cable Car. The new motor’s technology enables the motor to shut off in between trips and use less power when there is less weight in the cabin. Therefore, the motor operates only a fraction of every hour throughout the day which significantly cuts back electricity use. Since its installation, the new SCR has turned out to 96.85% more energy efficient, with a reduction of the overall kilowatt-hours used by 91.48%. The Silicon Control Rectifier (SCR) motor that powers the Cable Car and lighting retrofit (fiber optic lighting) installed in the Cable Car building have greatly increased electrical energy savings. The electrical energy savings is measured by the amount of electricity used prior to installing the SCR minus current consumption for the 10 months the Cable Car operates each year. This amounts to energy savings of 440,500 kWh annually. By replacing the old generator-driven system with a new Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) control Squaw Valley Ski Corp significantly reduced the amount of energy used to operate the Cable Car. Lighting Retrofits
As of 2009, Squaw Valley USA has also invested in energy efficient lights to replace all incandescent bulbs with 5-watt cold cathode CFLs and by upgrading fluorescent lighting fixtures to accommodate more efficient bulbs in Gold Coast, the Funitel building, Squaw Kids Children’s Center, High Camp, and both upper and lower vehicle shops. According to Energy Star, CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. In 2008 Squaw Valley installed retrofit (fiber optic) light bulbs and fixtures in the resort's Cable Car building, corporate office building - Olympic Village Lodge, as well as T12 metal halide lights in both upper and lower vehicle shops, and in the ice rink’s compressor room. In 2008 1500 cold cathode light bulbs were installed in place of regular bulbs in the Olympic House. The lights that are used to light the Mountain Run for night skiing are retrofit fiber optic lights, the most efficient night skiing light (external lighting) system. Insulation Retrofits
In 2008-09 Squaw Valley proceeded with insulation of buildings with window pane replacements in the Gold Coast Complex. In summer 2008, the Cable Car building was retrofitted with new insulating window panes, a motion to retain heat inside the building that houses the employee break rooms and offices for many departments including guest services, Cable Car, accounting, and electrical. By reducing the kWh needed to heat the building, the new insulated windows further decreased the annual energy usage in the Cable Car building in the 2008-09 season. In 2008-09 the new ARC restaurant within the existing Gold Coast building brought with it a fully renovated and retrofitted heat exchange heating system, along with high efficiency appliances and light fixtures, as well as new insulated windows to the entire Gold Coast Complex. Located at Gold Coast, The ARC was constructed from 100% recycled and locally produced sustainable building materials including:

80% reclaimed and recycled wood products
Water based and low VOC paints and finishes
Extensive use of bamboo flooring and bamboo wall paneling
Rubber floors made from 100% recycled rubber tires
Natural slate and granite countertops and counter fronts
LED and Compact florescent lighting (CFL's) fixtures, and 20% low voltage halogen lights
Fully renovated heating system in the Gold Coast complex

c. Have you replaced old and/or energy inefficient snowmaking guns? If yes, how many and what percentage of your snowmaking guns have been replaced? How is that percentage determined? Squaw Valley continues its multi year effort to replace all of the resort’s antiquated, inefficient guns (40s) with new more efficient B3s and SMI fan guns. When Squaw Valley began replacing the resort’s old snowmaking guns, there were 250 40s. An old 40 uses as much energy as approximately 2 B3s and 15 SMI fan gun uses. In 2009 Squaw purchased 50 new automated B3s and 2 new automated SMI fan guns. In summer 2009 a second 3 stage centrifugal compressor was installed (the first was installed in summer 2008. The new and much more energy efficient compressors reduce the number of guns needed. As of 2009, Squaw Valley phased out the use of the old 40s with B3s and SMI Super Bowl fan guns. Therefore 100% of the old energy inefficient guns have been replaced. In 2008-2009 Squaw Valley did not expanded snowmaking area or the number of guns used, but rather replaced old guns and compressors with new efficient guns and compressors, which has reduced the overall number of guns utilized. Squaw Valley adheres to a conservation policy of only making snow during the months of November and December (and a minimal amount at that). The resort’s snowmaking area has remained at 600 acres (20% of the resort’s 4,000 total acres) since 2006-07.

Forest & Vegetative Management

Ski areas recognize the importance of stewardship in managing the forests and vegetation that support ecosystems and allow for public recreation opportunities. Sound forest and vegetative management can benefit fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and viewsheds and reduce erosion, pollution, and greenhouse gases.

Ski resort operations can potentially impact vegetation, which in turn can increase soil erosion and damage the quality of local watersheds.

To combat this, Squaw Valley USA devotes an entire department to forest and vegetation and environmental management. By re-vegetating disturbed areas, the Environmental Improvement Department is working to improve the mountain’s natural vegetation, riparian areas, and wetlands to reduce erosion and preserve water quality. Efforts to maintain wetlands and riparian areas include lining runoff channels with rock and installing sediment basins. The Valley’s forested and re-vegetated land absorbs rain, refills underground aquifers, cleanses water, slows winter runoff, reduces flooding, and overall, sustains watershed stability and resilience. Each summer the Environmental Improvement Department takes on new projects that focus on re-vegetation in different areas. During 2007 a new parking lot storm water run-off treatment system that reduces sedimentation particles in snowmelt down to 50 microns, prior to being discharged into Squaw Creek, was installed in the resorts massive parking lot. The system filters out snowmelt sediment, oil, and pollutants (from cars in the parking lot). Snowmelt runs through a system of weirs and baffles to remove constituents down to particle size of 50 microns. The treated effluent (an outflow of water) is then released into the creek. The Environmental Improvement Department team members work diligently to preserve native and naturalized plant populations and their communities by collecting tree, shrub, grass and flower seeds from around the resort. The tree and shrub seeds are germinated at local nurseries, returned to Squaw Valley, and planted. The grass and flower seeds are dried and shipped back to Squaw Valley where they are redistributed. The seed is mixed with water and fertilizer and then the solution is distributed onto a seedbed. The material is then covered with a blanket of mulch and/or straw followed by a biodegradable netting to protect the seeds and enhance growth. It can take anywhere from a few months to several years for the vegetation to become completely established, but the efforts have paid off – aerial photos of Squaw taken this summer show that the mountain is actually greener than it was ten years ago.

Squaw Valley USA helped the environmental group Friends of Squaw Creek organize a board to pursue creek restoration and effectively put to use thousands of dollars in grant money awarded to the group to fund studies to assess how to make Squaw Creek a healthier body of water. Tom Murphy, Squaw’s Vice-President, has been appointed the chair of the Ground Water Management Committee for the Ground Water Management Plan that’s focus is to evaluate and improve upon the use of ground water to enhance the creek. In 2007/08 season, the resort’s Environmental Improvement department completed the Parking Lot Storm Water Run-off Treatment System. The new parking lot storm water run-off treatment system reduces sedimentation particles in parking lot snowmelt down to 50 microns, prior to being discharged into Squaw Creek. The system filters out snowmelt sediment, oil, and pollutants (from cars in the parking lot). Snowmelt runs through a system of weirs and baffles to remove constituents down to particle size of 50 microns. The treated effluent (an outflow of water) is then released into the creek. Squaw Valley USA continues to monitor this Regional Water Quality Control Board approved BAT (Best Available Technology) storm water treatment system to improve the health of the Creek.

Seed Distribution

Squaw Valley’s native seed mix includes a variety of grasses and native flowers such as Shasta Daisy, Indian Paintbrush, Yarrow, Slender Wheatgrass, Mountain Brome, Blue Wildrye, Big Bluegrass, Spanish Clover and Lupine.

Common revegetation projects include seeding terminal areas and reseeding roads. Erosion control projects include road eradication and drainage improvements.

Road Eradication - This road has been reseeded

Projects during the Summer, completed by an environmental improvement staff of eight, include:

The application of over 1100 pounds of seed, 190 cubic yards of humus, 930 cubic yards of wood chips, 900 yards of pine needles and 960 bales of straw, 2 tons of organic fertilizer, 3000' of straw waddles to Squaw Valley’s slopes to help stabilize potential erosion.
Hydro seed, mulch, wood chips and two water bars with rip rap were applied to the top of Gold Coast
Tower 4 of the Funitel received hydro seed and mulch as well as hand rip rapped gully.
Trail maintenance was done on Tower 6's Trail of Tears.
Tower 16 was watered once a week and more on hot weeks
Willow and sedge plugs were added to Gold Coast Pond. 200 willows were planted to settling ponds below the dam. The flow of water was kept unobstruckted all summer long which filled the ponds below dam to encourage willow growth. 98% of above coverage requirement was achieved!
Access to Tower 3 road was hydro-seeded and strawed/tacked.
The Burkhardt's Bridge Project included bmp installation maintenance, daily monitering, the removal of 5 yards of concrete and rebar with demolition hammers. Area was kept clean and dry by installing and removing 230 sand bags as a water diversion.
Olympic Lady in-line ditch received maintenence. Straw waddles were applied to to stop dirt movement.
Lost Lake Wetlands were hydro-seeded, mulched, and irrigation system was set up. 800 willows were planted and98% of coverage was achieved.
Mogul Hill Alternate was hydro seeded, mulched, and 110 bales of straw were tacked after construction finished. Three rolling dip, rip-rapped water bars were added.
Planting of 600 shrubs to augment natural vegetation
The application of over 800 pounds of seed, 190 cubic yards of humus, 400 cubic yards of wood chips, 480 yards of pine needles and 960 bales of straw, 2 tons of organic fertilizer, 3000' of straw waddles to Squaw Valley’s slopes to help stabilize potential erosion.
Over 5,000 wooden stakes and 18 rolls of fiber blanket were installed by hand to help protect freshly planted seeds.
Squaw Valley also continued with its native seed collection program.
Staff utilized a Shred Vac in revegetation efforts this summer to enhance progress. This revolutionary machine is a unique all-in-one collector, shredder and spreader that can vacuum and manually or mechanically load, shred and apply mulch consisting of pine needles, wood chips and humus for a multitude of erosion and stormwater control, landscaping and revegetation applications. This tool allowed staff to more efficiently and effectively cover areas of concern to maximize growth. The plants and seeds were then watered by several miles of temporary irrigation lines, installed by hand, and treated with organic fertilizer to ensure proper root development and plant health.
Squaw Valley also utilized over 900 cubic yards of pine needles collected from the community that were re-used as eco-friendly mulch on the resort’s slopes. The needles are a renewable resource that are used in revegetation efforts to increase the water retention and nourishment of the soil as well as help protect plant roots and keep weeds under control.

Tower 4

The tower 4 project included the planting of over 500 plants, topsoil application and seeding, the elimination of a temporary access road, and the hand-installation of over 10,000 wooden stakes to secure enormous erosion control blankets to protect the ground surface.

Tower 6

Around tower 6, Squaw Valley staff completed another major project, which included the installation of erosion control blankets, application of a hand-picked native seed mix, and the removal of a potential source of sediment.

The planting of over 1,500 shrubs and seedlings to augment natural vegetation.
Squaw also applied over 2,000 pounds of seed to resort slopes.
The plants and seeds were watered by several miles of temporary irrigation lines and treated with organic fertilizer to ensure proper root development and plant health.
More than 100,000 pounds of wood fiber mulch were applied to Squaw Valley’s slopes to help curb erosion.
Pine Needles around Far East's Top Terminal

A summer-long pine needle recycling program provided Squaw Valley with several tons of local pine needles that were re-used as eco-friendly mulch on the resort’s slopes. The needles are a renewable resource that are used in revegetation efforts to increase the water retention and nourishment of the soil as well as to help protect plant roots and keep weeds under control.
Squaw Valley also continued efforts to eliminate invasive weeds.

- The application of 1000 pounds of seed mix, several hundred bitterbrush, manzanita, snowberry and western serviceberry seedlings,
- The planting of approximately 50 wild roses
- The distribution of 4 tons fiber mulch, 60 yards pine needles, 1020 bales of straw, 2000 feet of straw waddles and 5 tons of organic fertilizer to various projects around the resort.
- In greening efforts the crew used 1500 feet of environmental fence, over 100 large sprinkler heads, miles of sprinkler pipe, one wood chipper and hundreds of man-hours.

The planting of 1,200 trees, and 2,000 shrubs to augment natural vegetation (many of the seeds were previously collected on the mountain in past summers and grown at local nurseries).
The resort applied 1,500 pounds of seed and 75 tons of wood fiber mulch to its slopes to curb erosion. Squaw Valley also used a helicopter to distribute much of the mulch to avoid unnecessary mountain disturbances.
The resort decommissioned several mountain roads to further decrease disturbances to the natural environment.
Squaw Valley has taken steps to eliminate two invasive weeds from the resort’s slopes, the Spotted Knapweed and the Hoary Cress or Whitetop. Invasive plants are a major concern in this region as the competitive nature of these types of plants replaces diverse plant communities with an unproductive monoculture that severely impacts varied environments.


White Top	Spotted Knapweed

Wetlands
Ski areas recognize that wetlands and riparian areas are crucial components of the alpine ecosystems in which they operate.

A wetland is a swampy or marshy area with characteristics of both dry land and bodies of water. Wetlands typically occur in low-lying areas that receive fresh water at the edges of lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. Here water stands at or near the ground surface, forming a habitat for different types of plants and wildlife. Wetlands can act as reservoirs for flood control, taking in excess water from urban streams during rainy seasons and they are natural sediment filters

Ski Corp is dedicated to preserving and improving wetland areas within the resort. Shallow water areas, levees, and water-control structures are constructed in order to restore the natural hydrology of the property and improve habitat for wetland-dependent wildlife. It was critical to build the proper topographic features, and ensure that the project provided for appropriate water flows to encourage growth of wetland vegetation, which was planted from seed. By successfully maintaining the wetland, the Ski Corp hopes to reduce flooding and erosion, improve water quality, and increase the population of many plants and animals.

The Thriving Gold Coast Wetland

Most areas of the wetland are now functioning perfectly, while other areas will require further monitoring and minor adjustment in order to duplicate the processes, which occur in naturally occurring wetlands.

Water Quality Management
Water is an important resource for ski areas as well as the surrounding natural environments and communities, and should be used as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Ski Corp engages in substantial water quality monitoring within the watershed in order to ensure the ongoing health of the Squaw Valley ecosystem and of Squaw Creek and the Truckee River. The Resort collects water samples from several sites during periods when runoff occurs. The sampling sites and schedule for collection were determined in coordination with State regulatory authorities, which have helped the company to ensure that the program yields useful data.

Water monitoring ensures water quality

After the samples are collected, they are shipped to an independent analytical laboratory that analyzes them for constituents of concern. (In Squaw Valley, the most important potential pollutant is sediment, which naturally enters the water through snowmelt and runoff.) Ski Corp uses the sample data diagnostically, in order to identify areas that may benefit from further environmental enhancement, drainage improvement, or revegetation.

Over time, it is possible to see the effects of many of the Ski Corp’s Environmental Improvement efforts, and to identify new avenues for improvement.

Natural vegetation, riparian areas, and wetlands all contribute positively to water quality. Therefore, Ski Corp’s Forest and Vegetative Management program is the resort’s best tool to keep sediment from entering runoff.

Erosion is the removal of rock and soil material by natural processes, such as snow, water, ice and wind. Erosion transports earthen material after the process of weathering has broken bedrock down into smaller, moveable pieces. One method of controlling the effect this erosive process has on the natural environment is to stabilize areas of runoff. By adding a protective mound of stones to the existing channels of runoff, the water is controlled and basins can be built to collect sediment from runoff in order to preserve water quality.

Sediment Basins promote water quality

The resort has installed numerous "sedimentation basins" where water is collected and slowed down in its natural course down the valley. These basins collect water flows, allowing sediment to fall to the bottom of the ponds before water is discharged from the holding areas.

During the late summer and fall, the sediment basins are emptied and the material is removed to areas where it will not be prone to re-erode. The cleaned basins are then available to capture sediment from water flows during the upcoming season.

Transportation
Travel to and within ski areas has unavoidable impacts. Through transportation initiatives, ski areas can do their part to help ease congestion and impacts to air quality and improve the ski area experience.

Squaw Valley USA is the only resort in the Tahoe basin to offer daily ski shuttles from around Lake Tahoe and from Reno. Squaw Valley also works exclusively with the Tahoe Queen, the only waterborne ski taxi in the world, bringing skiers from the South Shore across the lake on a classic paddlewheeler.

Each of these options not only provides a convenient and hassle-free way to get to the slopes, but it also decreases traffic and eliminates parking problems.

In 2008-09 Squaw Valley Expanded Shuttle Program to include free (w/lift ticket) Saturday Roundtrip Sacramento Shuttles · Squaw Valley runs free daily shuttles for guest commuting to Squaw from South Lake Tahoe or Reno, arriving at 9:30 am and leaving at 4:30 pm. The popularity of these shuttles, and the high cost of fuel has prompted Squaw Valley to expand its free shuttle service for the 2008-09 season. For the first time this winter, Squaw Valley ran free shuttles every Saturday for guests commuting to Squaw from Sacramento. Given that the majority of skier visits hail from the Bay Area and Sacramento, these new shuttles provided Bay Area and Sacramento area skiers with an environmentally-friendly mode of transportation. The shuttle stop was at a ski and snowboard shop off I-80 where Bay Area skiers and riders could park their cars and load the shuttle – cutting out a huge portion of their trip and greatly reducing their carbon footprint commuting to and from Squaw Valley USA. Squaw Valley USA continues to support the following transportation initiatives: Sponsorship of Snowbomb Ride Share Forums

Squaw Valley is sponsoring the SnowBomb Ride Share Forums. The online program allows users to register and then search for (or provide) rides by date, time, departing destination and other details, in order to contact drivers or riders with similar agendas. Users also have the option to personalize their profiles in order to connect with like-minded individuals (i.e. smoker/non-smoker, early-riser/noon club, skier/snowboarder, etc.).

Snowbomb.com has been awarded a grant from the Placer County Air Pollution Control District to further develop and implement their ski/snowboard specific online ride sharing program created last winter season. The $25,000 grant, awarded as a portion of the county’s Air Quality Mitigation Funds, will be used to further develop and market the user-friendly, online ride sharing software for use at several ski resorts in Placer County. In addition, the program encourages environmental awareness in the skiing/snowboarding community and aids winter enthusiasts traveling to the region who are burdened by the ever-increasing price of gas. “The software can be adapted and easily integrated into any resort’s website,” says SnowBomb founder, Jim McAlpine. “Our goal this fall is to launch the system with 10 Lake Tahoe partner resorts and take 20,000 cars off the road. Not only will we see a strong reduction in carbon emissions, we’ll also be helping resorts create more parking spaces and reducing road traffic.” Sponsorship of Tahoe Area Rapid TransitSquaw Valley Ski Corp extends a serious effort toward getting its own employees to use environmentally sensitive modes of transportation to and from work by paying the bill for Tahoe Area Rapid Transit (TART) passes for all employees. Any employee can pick up books of TART passes from Squaw’s personnel office, free of charge – allowing all employees the opportunity (and incentive) to commute to work via mass transit at no cost to them. o The TART runs 7 days a week from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM, except Christmas Day. TART operates along 30 miles of Lake Tahoe shoreline and includes a shuttle between Tahoe City and Truckee via Hwy. · In total, Ski Corp provided approximately $35,000 to the TART system in 2008-09, covering the cost for employees to freely access their services as well as a fee for providing a Squaw Valley stop on the TART’s daily route. · Squaw Valley runs free shuttles for guest commuting to Squaw from South Lake Tahoe or Reno, arriving daily at 9:30 am and leaving at 4:30 pm. Sponsorship of Alternaride Ride Share Service· Squaw Valley USA sponsors the Alternaride nationwide rideshare service. By sponsoring Alternaride, guests are provided with a free rideshare service to Squaw Valley USA, in which guests use the service to find others who also want to carpool to Squaw Valley. The Alternaride service to Squaw Valley has proved especially successful in off-setting vehicle miles traveled to Squaw from San Francisco, by providing Bay Area skiers a comprehensive carpooling option for their 300 mile commute to Squaw. Sponsorship of the World’s Only Aqua Ski ShuttleSquaw Valley also sponsors a waterborne ski taxi – an eco-friendly paddlewheeler that transports skiers from South Shore to North Shore across Lake Tahoe. A bus picks guests up first thing in the morning and takes them to Squaw Valley USA. For the return trip we guests take the Tahoe Queen, Lake Tahoe’s only authentic paddle wheeler back to the Ski Run Marina in South Lake Tahoe.

The completion Intrawest’s new Village at Squaw Valley has increased lodging in the base area further reducing the need for vehicle use.

The Village has created several hundred new units and a substantial new commercial area. Together, these amenities have provided an experience that allows visitors to stay in the Valley for several days, thus decreasing individual vehicle trips.

We expect that the new Village will continue to attract even more guests from across the nation and the world. These guests are likely to stay for several days, whereas guests from the immediate region are likely to stay for shorter durations, but visit more frequently.

Guests who visit from distant locales often do so without making use of personal vehicles, and are apt to stay longer, thus adding fewer incremental vehicle trips.

Ski Corp is working with County and State officials to encourage the use of mass transit, and to anticipate changing transit needs in our area.

Waste Management
The Principles below incorporate the "REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE" philosophy of waste management to help ensure materials are being used efficiently and disposed of only after consideration is given to reusing or recycling them. Reducing waste helps protect natural resources, reduce pollution, greenhouse gases and energy use by decreasing the need to produce new materials, and minimizes disposal costs.

For the 2009-10 Ski Season, Squaw Valley invested $30,000 in bear proof Recycling Bins placed throughout the resort.

Squaw Valley has instituted a comprehensive recycling program.

Tier one targets Squaw Valley’s guests. In conjunction with the Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal Company, recycling bins for glass and aluminum have been strategically placed in key, high traffic areas throughout the resort.
Tier two of the recycling program takes place behind the scenes. All Ski Corp. offices are equipped with recycling containers for paper. Each year Squaw Valley Ski Corp. recycles over 4 tons of paper products.

The third tier incorporates a solid waste incinerator. All solid waste from Squaw Valley’s mid-mountain complexes, Gold Coast and High Camp, is vaporized in an incinerator, which is 99.99% efficient. All recyclable materials are recovered prior to incineration.
Tier four takes place in Squaw Valley’s vehicle shops where the staff recycles all oil and hydraulic fluids, tires and batteries. Squaw Valley also uses only MTBE free gasoline. An on-site system also recycles all anti-freeze products.

In early 2001, Squaw Valley installed tier five, a state-of-the-art trash compactor (know as a Waste Reduction System) for the base area facilities. This new system greatly reduces the size of trash to be removed from the premises.

In 2008-09 Squaw Valley recycled 2,000 lbs of cans, 1,000 lbs of plastic bottles, 4,000 lbs of aluminum, 200 lbs of newspaper, and 4 lbs of trail maps. The percentage of total customer use product has increased from the previous season, but a lack of data from 07-08 means it is difficult to determine by how much. As of 2008-09 Squaw Valley Senior Managers now review the waste stream approximately twice per year; pre and post ski season. One of the waste management mechanisms in Squaw Valley food and beverage facilities incorporates a solid waste incinerator. All solid waste from Squaw Valley’s mid-mountain complexes, Gold Coast and High Camp, is vaporized in an incinerator, which is 99.99% efficient. Recyclable materials are recovered prior to incineration. Last season approximately 240,000 lbs. of waste was incinerated. A Squaw Valley employee logs the # of lbs. of waste incinerated each day. Squaw Valley Ski Corp owns and operates three restaurants at the upper mountain High Camp facility. It is time intensive and complicated to transport all food materials to the restaurants and minimizing food waste in this facility is a huge concern. In 2007/08 a switch to non-disposable tableware in Food & Beverage, and the shift to sustainable practices in the resort’s concessions has significantly reduced the amount of waste generated by resort restaurants and shops. In 2008-09 a switch to recyclable cups made from corn contributed to a reduction of approximately 4000 pounds of waste annually, and an overall increase in seasonal waste diverted from the landfill. Squaw Valley Ski Corp has implemented several other effective methods for minimizing waste in mountain Food & Beverage facilities: In the restaurant and cafeteria, the staff offers daily specials designed to maximize food consumption, prevent spoilage and cut down on waste. The banquet manager works diligently to not over order when planning group menus and after a party or function the left over food is either taken home by the group or offered to any and all staff working at the facility. All trash (paper and food mix) is transported to the incinerator for disposal. All packaging materials generated from food service operations, such as cans, bottles, paper and plastic are recycled through the resort's general recycling program. For the base area food and beverage facilities there is a state-of-the-art trash compactor (know as a Waste Reduction System). This system greatly reduces the amount of trash sent to landfills that is generated on the premises. All other restaurants on Squaw Valley property may take advantage of the resort's incinerator and compactor, and recycling programs. Squaw Valley makes recycling easy and convenient for guests and community members by placing brand new bear proof recycling bins in outdoor areas throughout the resort. Trail map recycling bins are available in high traffic areas asking guests to recycle trail maps (in decent condition) for future guests to use. Each day 30-100 trail maps are collected from the bins and redistributed. The lift ticket backs (the paper left behind once the lift ticket is peeled off) are printed with coupons and savings offers so they can be reused by guests. Squaw Valley offers hand air dryers in all restrooms to encourage guests and employees to reduce paper towel waste. Squaw Valley educates guests and employees through fliers, the web and company newsletters about reducing wastes generated at the area and encourage all to follow the "Leave No Trace Principles.” In 2008-09, Squaw Valley’s enhanced recycling/waste management program successfully diverted an estimated 253.8 tons of non-customer waste from the landfill. Squaw Valley’s waste management program incorporates the "REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE" philosophy of waste management to help ensure materials are being used efficiently and disposed of only after consideration is given to reusing or recycling them. In 2008-09 Squaw Valley USA recycled: · Cardboard boxes – approximately 30,000 lbs of cardboard waste was incinerated to generate hot water for the Gold Coast lodge.· Computers and televisions – approximately 1,500 lbs of computers, monitors, etc. has been collected over the year and will be recycled with specialty electronic recycling.· approximately 16,000 lbs of paper was shredded and recycled· Office Furniture – all furniture is saved in storage for future use and approximately 4,000 lbs of furniture was reused.· Office Paper – approximately 6,000 lbs of paper was reduced by printing double sided, reusing scrap paper for notepads, and by creating electronic submittals for Haz Mat programs, etc.· 250 lbs of copier toner cartridges Squaw recycles all oil and hydraulic fluids, tires, batteries and use only MTBE free gasoline through a system developed on site. In 2008-09 a total of 8,000 gallons of waste oil, paint thinners were recycled. Also: · 2200 gallons of oil was picked up and recycled by Asbury Environmental Services. · Last season 23 drums (55 gallon drums) of miscellaneous oils, glue and 10 drums of car oil were picked up by Ramos Environmental · 300 lbs of non vehicle batteries + 2,700 lbs of vehicle batteries were recycled on-site in the vehicle shop. (100%) · An on-site system also recycles all anti-freeze products. Last season 66500 gallons (100%) of anti freeze was recycled. · Approximately 300 lbs of paint was recycled at the Eastern Regional Landfill yearly recycling day· 3000 lbs of tires – tires go to the transfer station for recycling - ~30 tires In 2008-09 Squaw Valley USA recycled an estimated 30,500 lbs of packaging materials including boxes, packaging bubbles and paper for other shipping needs. Cardboard and packaging materials that can be reused are stored and then utilized for a variety of purposes. In addition, as the resort business is seasonal and there is a high influx of people for just a few months at a time, we offer the boxes and packing materials to our employees for moving purposes. Any and all (100%) of boxes that are damaged and cannot be reused are recycled. Ski Corp offices are equipped with recycling bags for all paper products. A company called ‘Eastern Regional Landfill’ collects and recycles all of Squaw’s paper products and reports back how many lbs. are collected.

The Future

Squaw Valley’s Technical Director, Hardy Herger is researching additional environmental improvement initiatives such as the implementation of wind and solar power on the upper mountain, which could further contribute to the goal of emissions reduction.
We remain committed to embracing environmentally progressive practices and work will continue to ensure that the mountain’s beauty is sustained for generations to come.