Stratton Mountain Awards

Sky Foulkes accepts 2002 Award from Gov. Jim Douglas and Natural Resources Secretary Elizabeth McLain

Stratton Mountain's environmental initiatives were recognized again this year with three awards from the State of Vermont, including the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention.

Stratton earned its second Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in Land Use and Land Use Planning. This award recognizes "Projects that preserve or conserve land to create ecological and environmental benefits that advance smart growth alternatives."

This year, Stratton was also recognized by the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife with the Commissioner's Landowner Appreciation Award, the first time a corporation has earned this award.

And most recently, Stratton earned the 2003 Merit Award for Land Stewardship from the Vermont Travel Industry Conference.

Since 1996, Stratton has also earned three Silver Eagle Awards for environmental excellence in wildlife habitat protection, water conservation and wastewater treatment. Stratton's first Governor's Award (2000) was for a heated Village walkway featuring an innovative underground radiant heat system that protects upland streams and fish habitat by eliminating surface pollutants.

Stratton earned the 2003 Vermont Governor's Award for its wildlife management program, wildlife studies, and Conservation Easements presented to the State of Vermont. These seven distinct areas, on 1,200 acres, were identified in the exhaustive planning process that resulted in Vermont's first fully approved mountain resort Master Plan (1999). These conservation areas include whitetail deer wintering grounds and feeding areas, bear travel corridors and feeding areas and Bicknell's thrush habitat.

While the state typically requires two acres of land be offered as mitigation for each acre affected by development, Stratton's Conservation Easements "up the ante for future development by moving the ratio closer to 18-to-1," according to the Agency of Natural Resources. "The Stratton Master Plan, based on cluster rather than sprawl development, supports the resort's economic viability while permanently protecting nearly a third of the resort property for use by important wildlife species."

Governor's Award selection criteria include benefits to the environment, use of innovative approaches, techniques or technologies, level of commitment and leadership, ability of the program to serve as a model for other efforts, and economic efficiency. "Those honored have demonstrated excellence in pursuit of a preferred future. We can learn from their experiences and share in the joy of their achievement."

Stratton was selected from among several nominees to earn the 2003 Commissioner's Landowner Appreciation Award, according to Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife Operations Director Ron Regan who explained, "Stratton rose to the top for making a forthright and long term commitment to wildlife."

Stratton, the first corporation to earn the award, "has served as a model large landowner for their interest and support in black bear habitat conservation," according to the commissioner. "In the late 1980s, the Stratton Corporation was instrumental in developing and implementing a comprehensive black bear study in the Stratton region. They provided not only a large portion of the funding, but also endless staff assistance during the study. When the research was completed, the Stratton Corporation ... took the findings and included them into the ski resort's master plan. This resulted in the ski area voluntarily placing conservation easements on over 1,200 acres of the resort's lands in the name of bear habitat conservation. To this day, Stratton Corporation continues to work with Vermont Fish & Wildlife biologists to preview potential ski resort development and management activities for their impact on bears."

In addition to the black bear study, Stratton has teamed up with the Vermont Institute of Natural Science to study Bicknell's thrush habitat. Stratton provides a unique opportunity for studying this rare bird's response to development and human activity because the mountain actually features two summits, one developed with ski trails and a second undeveloped high elevation habitat.

Two recent lift installations were modified based on study findings. The 1999 Ursa Express construction began after July 27 when the nesting season had ended. In 2001, lift lines for the two newest six-passenger lifts were cut during the winter - before the migratory songbirds had returned to nest. Completing the work while the ground was frozen limited erosion thereby protecting water quality.

Stratton's commitment to habitat protection has been hailed as a model for environmentally responsible development. "Stratton has been excellent to work with," said Forrest Hammond, wildlife biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. "The gains far outweigh the losses. Stratton has given up development rights to nearly a third of the resort. That is quite a commitment, and as far-reaching a plan as we have seen." ..

Bill Nupp and Graham Wood accept the 2000 Award from Gov. Howard Dean.