Highlights from the AEC's annual report on conservation and sustainability efforts.
Download the 2024 Sustainability Report
Sustainability Navigation
Our Mission is Sustainability
AEC crew sorting native plant seedlings on plant delivery day | Photo: Adam Fehr
The Alta Environmental Center (AEC) was established in 2008 to guide the ski area’s sustainability efforts and protect the natural environment in which we operate. Guided by three pillars—environment, community and footprint—the AEC is committed to enhancing sustainable practices at Alta Ski Area. These principles drive us to serve as a resource for the community, uphold high standards in project selection and implementation and lead initiatives to conserve water, energy and air quality.
Climate change presents challenges and opportunities for us to shape the future of our canyon. With support from local and national communities, we work to address the environmental impacts of recreation, transportation and operations. At the local level, we engage through educational programs and stewardship events in partnership with local nonprofit organizations. Nationally, we participate in the National Ski Areas Association’s Climate Challenge. By tracking our annual carbon emissions, setting goals and measuring our progress, we identify ways to lead by example and inspire others in the ski industry.
The goal of this sustainability report is to offer a transparent view of this past year's efforts toward creating a positive impact at Alta Ski Area and in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Environment
Alta is committed to achieving sustainability by conserving energy, water and land. We aim to minimize and mitigate our impact on the natural environment while providing recreational opportunities to Little Cottonwood Canyon visitors.
Land Conservation
This summer, the AEC planted 13,000 native plants across 14 acres of Alta’s mountainous terrain, restoring areas impacted by ski area projects. This work reflects Alta’s dedication to mitigating our impacts on the natural mountain environment.
2024 land conservation efforts
Learn more about Alta's land conservation efforts>
It All Started with a Seed
Seed collection occurred this fall as cooler temperatures settled into the mountains. Approximately 13,000 seeds were collected from 23 native plant species across Alta’s slopes for next year’s revegetation projects.
Conveyors, Willows and Artifacts
This summer, Alta Ski Area initiated a project to enhance the experience for beginner skiers and improve transportation from the Transfer Tow area to the Alf Engen Ski School base. Alta constructed two new conveyor systems on the south side of the Albion Ticket Office. Before breaking ground, the AEC and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) assessed the project’s potential environmental impacts. Two primary challenges were identified in the project area: one concerning environmental impacts and the other related to historic preservation. To effectively address these challenges, unique disturbance mitigation measures were implemented.
L: Old Town of Alta in the late 1800s | R: Conveyor construction in old Town of Alta site (Transfer Tow) in the summer of 2024
Environmental Impacts
One of the new conveyors passed directly through a riparian zone, which contains a perennial drainage located just south of the Albion parking lot. To avoid filling the riparian zone and drainage, we constructed a bridge above it to support the conveyor. This design allows water to flow underneath and enables native riparian plants to grow around the structure. During construction, five native shrubs and 15 upland vegetation plugs were removed from the conveyor’s path and replanted around the conveyor once the construction was complete.
Willow Relocation
Willows are typically found near water. Before conveyor construction began, the Forest Service requested the preservation of a large clump of willows through relocation. Willows tend to have a resilient temperament and are able to withstand the stress of relocation. We used two strategies for this:
- Removing large sections of willows with an excavator and replanting them in nearby drainages.
- Collecting clippings of young willows, keeping them in water until fall, then planting them on Alta’s slopes.
Historical Artifacts
The conveyor project site was in the historic site of the original Town of Alta, established during the silver mining era (1870-1900). Excavating in this area often uncovers previously undiscovered artifacts. To monitor the excavation process, professional archaeologists from SWCA were hired to oversee every scoop of dirt removed from the site. And the archeologist uncovered interesting artifacts indeed!
Butter knives, shards of glass bourbon bottles, remnants of shoes (as seen above), shell buttons, original chinaware and glass goblets were unearthed within the site. These items were carefully recovered, documented and preserved by SWCA.
2024 Restoration Projects
Restoration projects are specially designed to suit their environment, some requiring more specific considerations than others. Factors such as plant community types, the presence or absence of riparian conditions and susceptibility to erosion are crucial in planning these projects. A notable example is the wetland mitigation sites in the Albion Basin, which have wetter conditions, higher sensitivity and less common species.
Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow—a popular ski run in the Supreme Area—was once a steep and rugged slope featuring a large top-to-bottom gully. Due to the shape of the terrain, the run required significant snowfall to be deemed skiable, sometimes delaying the opening of the Supreme Area by a month. In 2022, the gully was filled by Alta Ski Area. Restoration work on Sleepy Hollow began in 2023 and establishing vegetation for erosion control on this steep and rocky slope was a top priority.
Sleepy Hollow Revegetation Site in the Summer of 2024 | Photo: Jen Melton
Native seed was laid underneath an erosion-control fabric—woven from hemp and coconut—which was then stapled to the ground. The seed will germinate under the shade of the fabric and push through to the light from small openings. Vegetation is the most effective erosion control measure, so we doubled down by planting 7,000 forbs and shrubs. Usually, Mother Nature’s irrigation schedule does the trick for these plants, but a six-week dry period forced us to get an Alta watering truck to the top of Supreme, where hoses were laid out from its large basin to trickle water down the slope. Manual watering and some late summer storms kept the site alive.
Nina's
Nina’s—a steep face in Collins Gulch—is a three-acre terrain change project that has experienced substantial vegetation regrowth since revegetation efforts began in 2021. Over three years, 9,000 plants were introduced to the site.
Left: Nina's Revegetation Site 2021 | Right: Nina's Revegetation Site 2024
Given the steepness and size of the area, erosion was a significant concern, but vegetation on this slope has thrived despite the steepness. One advantage of Nina’s location is the presence of snowmaking lines. During periods of dry weather, hoses and sprinkler heads were connected to a nearby snowmaking line to water the slope and prevent the new vegetation from drying up. Although revegetation efforts on Nina’s have concluded after three years, the site will continue to be monitored in the coming years.
Wetland Restoration
This summer marks the conclusion of a multi-year wetland mitigation and restoration project at three wetland sites—Cecret, Bend and Berm—in the Albion Basin. Mitigation work successfully restored 11,240 square feet (sq ft) of wetland, offsetting the loss of 2,238 sq ft from the 2017 Albion parking lot expansion and Supreme lift installation.
Left: Cecret Site 2021 | Right: Cecret Site 2024
Left: Bend Site 2021 | Right: Bend Site 2024
Left: Berm Site 2021 | Right: Berm Site 2023
The restoration process began with a native wetland seed mix designed explicitly for Alta’s native grasses. These grasses quickly established themselves, creating a more suitable habitat for other plants to thrive. Between 2021 to 2024, approximately 3,500 native wetland plants were planted, over 100 five-gallon wetland vegetation plugs were transplanted from surrounding areas and numerous willow propagations were introduced. The AEC carefully monitored, recorded and removed invasive species by hand. Seeds were harvested from nearby undisturbed areas and overseeded across the sites each fall.
Throughout the restoration process, a survey was conducted each year to inventory plant species at each site. 55% percent of the identified species held a wetland indicator status of either obligate, facultative wetland or facultative species. Wetland indicator status is a classification system that estimates how likely a plant species will be found in a wetland. Monitoring these species helps confirm that ideal conditions for their growth are being established, indicating that the restoration process is effective. The combination of water presence and wetland species lays the groundwork for the formation of hydrophytic soils, a key characteristic of wetlands. Although revegetation efforts in these three wetland sites have concluded, they will continue to be monitored in the coming years.
- Obligate wetland species almost always occur in wetlands (chances are >99%).
- Facultative wetland usually occurs in wetlands but may also occur in non-wetlands (67%-99% probability).
- Facultative is equally likely to occur in wetlands and non-wetlands (34%-66%).
To learn more about Wetland Restoration, check out our 2022 Sustainability Report >
Community
Community stewards gathered on the Backside Road to plant | Photo: Tyler Struss
Alta strives to be a valuable resource for our community by actively promoting sustainable initiatives through stewardship opportunities. We encourage environmental education and research through internal and third-party collaboration.
Community Conservation Brings People Together
Through volunteer events and educational programs, we invite local and visiting stewards to join in hands-on restoration efforts. Activities include planting trees, removing invasive species and learning about Alta’s diverse wildlife and rich history. These programs are vital for fostering community engagement and raising environmental awareness. This summer, we hosted 20 events that attracted 1,960 new and returning stewards—facilitating face-to-face interactions that are becoming rare in our communities. By cultivating stewards of both the land and the community, these events offer memorable opportunities to learn, give back and play outside.
We are grateful to our Salt Lake and Little Cottonwood Canyon communities for helping us make a lasting mark on our slopes!
Tree Planting Day: Reforesting Alta
This year, 50 volunteers planted 800 Engelmann spruce seedlings during Alta’s annual Tree Planting Day, continuing a long-standing tradition of reforestation in the area. These seedlings come from trees right here at Alta, helping to ensure the region’s long-term age and species diversity. The seeds are collected from Alta’s slopes each fall by the U.S. Forest Service and sent to Idaho for germination. After a year of growth, the seedlings return to Alta and are planted within 24 hours of arrival.
On Tree Planting Day, volunteers worked in five groups to plant the seedlings across Collins Gulch and along the Backside Road. The success of these trees depends on careful planting—with special attention to location, elevation and aspect. While we may not see these trees reach maturity in our lifetime, reforestation efforts remain a deeply rooted tradition at Alta.
Learn more about Alta Tree Planting Day 2024 >
Employee Conservation efforts
Alta employees are at the heart of our sustainability efforts. This summer, team members from various departments came together on the mountain for Alta’s Employee Planting Days—helping us achieve key milestones and set new planting records. These events offer employees the opportunity to actively participate in restoring in the place that brings us all together. By taking part, they set an example for the community and inspire others to become stewards of the land.
Left: Employees planting native seedlings on Nina's | Right: Employees planting Snowberry Shrubs on Sleepy Hallow
Employee Planting Day achievements this summer:
- A record-breaking 2,095 native plants were planted in a single day on Nina’s during Employee Planting Day.
- Alta employees planted 202 Snowberry shrubs into Sleepy Hollow in the Supreme area to restore natural vegetation and stabilize the soil.
- In 2023, 105 Engelmann spruce saplings were harvested from groomed runs and relocated to our tree nursery. This year, those trees found new homes in the woods of Sugarloaf.
Learn more about Alta's employee conservation efforts >
Birding & Conservation Education
Alta’s feathered friends took flight this summer with 13 birding events that brought together over 100 bird enthusiasts. Led by Tracy Aviary and HawkWatch International, these events provided an up-close educational experience with Alta’s unique avian residents while emphasizing the importance of bird conservation.
Birding Hikes with Tracy Aviary
The Tracy Aviary Conservation Team hosts monthly Birding Hikes at Alta to survey non-breeding birds as part of the Alta Bird Monitoring Program, established in 2015. This program aims to promote bird-friendly practices at Alta and monitor the health of this unique high-altitude ecosystem. Guided by expert birders, participants learn to identify local birds by sight and sound. These hikes are a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow bird enthusiasts, whether you are new to birding or an experienced observer.
Join us for a bird survey adventure with Tracy Aviary, Conservation Biologists in the summer on our Birding Hikes or Birding on Skis in the winter.
Learn more about Alta's bird conservation efforts with Tracy Aviary >
Birding Hike group exploring the Devil Castle loop | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
HawkWatch International's Bird of Prey Show
HawkWatch International joined us in the mountains for three Bird of Prey Shows this summer. As leaders in raptor research and conservation, their educators brought raptors who serve as educational ambassadors. Each show featured two rescued raptors—that cannot return to the wild—allowing the community to connect and support bird conservation efforts at Alta and beyond.
Learn more about HawkWatch International >
Summer Recreation
This summer marked Alta’s seventh season managing Albion Basin Operations. The Summer Road opened to the public on July 3, 2024, and closed on October 17, 2024—welcoming an estimated 207,045 visitors to Albion Basin. This past summer, Albion Basin was a hub of recreational activity where visitors enjoyed hiking, wildflower gazing, wildlife watching and educational programs—making it another memorable season in the mountains.
Visitor Engagement
Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, Alta Ski Area, Friends of Alta and the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation helped guide and educate visitors on weekends and holidays.
- Visitors learned about responsible recreation in a protected watershed, trail etiquette and Alta’s unique flora and fauna.
- Interpretive stations at the Albion base area and Cecret Lake trailhead provided helpful information.
The Alta Store
The Alta Store is located at the junction of the Cecret Lake trailhead and Albion Basin Campground—open daily from July 3 to August 4, and on weekends through Labor Day.
- The store offered food, retail items and helpful information.
Albion Basin Campground
The Albion Basin Campground offered 57 nights of reservation-only camping from July 12 to September 7, 2024.
- Reservations were available online at recreation.gov.
- Campers enjoyed easy access to hiking trails and wildflowers in the Albion Basin area.
Learn more about summer at Alta >
Footprint
People gather at the Wildcat Base waiting to load the lift on a powder day | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Alta is committed to supporting the economic well-being of our community while minimizing our environmental impact by fostering economic initiatives that prioritize long-term sustainability and resource efficiency.
Rubber Recycling
Ski boots are designed for peak performance on the slopes, but walking in them can be challenging—off-mountain slips, trips and falls are common. To help skiers avoid these risks, Alta Ski Area installs non-slip, rubber flooring in highly trafficked walkways. Over time, the rubber flooring wears down and begins to crumble, losing its effectiveness and necessitating the installation of new floor tiles. Alta Ski Area recently joined a circular program with Ecore, a rubber product manufacturer that recycles and transforms old rubber into new products. The process is simple: we send them our worn-out rubber floor tiles and in return, they send us “new” tiles made from recycled rubber. Around and around it goes
This summer, Alta sent 14,000 lbs (7 tons) of old rubber flooring to Ecore. This material will be reduced to crumb rubber and repurposed in various applications. In exchange, Alta receives tiles made from discarded vehicle tires. Vehicle tires often end up in landfills or are burned as fuel in cement kilns, releasing toxic chemicals into the air. To combat this, Ecore transforms these tires into flooring for gyms, turf infill, speed humps, rubber mulch and hospitality base layers. These materials can be recycled again into new rubber flooring products in their next life.
Snowmaking Efficiency
This year, Alta replaced 20 snowmaking lances and two tower fan guns to improve the efficiency of its snowmaking system. According to future weather forecast models, the number of days with temperatures cold enough for snowmaking has decreased and is expected to continue declining. Thus, having an efficient snowmaking system is essential for making the most of cold temperatures when they occur
Alta replaced various lances from the 1990–2005 era with brand-new DEMACLENKO EOS 4.0 lances, which can produce three times more snow than the older models, resulting in a 200 percent increase in efficiency. Two tower guns from the late 1900s—the Techno Alpin M12 and T40—were also replaced. The new tower guns now produce twice as much snow from the same amount of energy as the 25+-year-old models.
The increase in efficiency is illustrated by the Energy-Snow Ratio (ESR), measured in kWh/m³. This ratio describes how much energy (kilowatt hours) is used to produce one cubic yard (m³) of snow; the lower the ESR figure, the better the efficiency
Renewable Energy Credits
Alta Ski Area matched 100% of its electricity use in renewable energy through the Blue Sky Select program. This program, run by Rocky Mountain Power, allows Alta to reduce its carbon footprint by an estimated 3,567 metric tons of carbon dioxide this year by purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs).
The RECs purchased were created by a solar farm in southern Utah and fed into the Rocky Mountain Power grid. Electricity use makes up more than 50% of the ski area’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. As a business that relies on snow, Alta Ski Area recognizes the impact of climate change. Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions aligns with the ski area’s mission statement to provide authentic skiing experiences within a natural mountain environment. In order to continue fostering the Alta experience for future generations, the ski area is committed to conserving and protecting the natural mountain environment in which we operate. Blue Sky products are Green-e® Energy certified and meet the environmental and consumer-protection standards set forth by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions
Learn more about our economic footprint >
Stay up to date with the AEC by subscribing to our newsletters and following us on Instagram or Facebook.
Add Your Comment