| OCR Text |
Show FEATURE 8 Gad Valley, located in Snowbird ski resort, was once backcountry but is now developed and full of tourists and regulars. Plans to preserve recreational land could be tbe only option to ensure access for future students at Westminster College and Utah's growing population, according to Greg Gagne, a computer science professor at Westminster. Mountain Accord seeks student input for future of Central Wasatch Mountains tain Accord, such as Eric Trenbeath, a freelance journalist and Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center avalanche forecaster from the Moab region. Trenbeath said he has been following the Mountain Accord process since it started in 2013. ANDREW NASSETTA STAFF REPORTER planning with students input in mind. They are the future and we do not have enough of their Many students at Westminster College enjoy recreational activities in the Central Wasatch input." Students from all over the state, country and world choose Westminster College because of its Mountains but some arent aware of the Mountain Accord and how the future planning will affect transportation, resources and recreation in proximity to the Central Wasatch Mountains, which allows students to pursue their passions for outdoor recreation while obtaining a college has been working to limit development in watershed areas and set aside a lot of terrain for wilderness and national the range. education. conservation area designations,Trenbeath said Mountain Accord wants to limit the expan- According to Mountain Accords website, planning will benefit current and future generations by establishing an framework that in-de- I dont see myself being able to have that ex- perience at many other colleges, said Karasick, who said she came to Salt Lake City for her ed- of outdoor provides long-terprotection of the regions water, lands, recreational opportunities and econom- ucation and the ample amount ation opportunities available. ic prosperity. Though many members of the Salt Lake community didnt grow up in Utah, they said they recognize the areas uniqueness and find the Central Wasatch Mountains worth protecting. I am really passionate about the Central Wasatch Mountains, said Jones, who said she holds a neutral position on the Mountain Accord. Thats why I moved here from Texas. I feel like m Despite the impact Mountain Accord would, have on the Wasatch, not all students are aware of what the agreement does to their backyard. I have heard people talk about Mountain Accord in my class and no one seems to have any idea what it is, said Molly Karasick, a Westminster junior communication and Spanish double major from New Jersey. All I know is that it is a group of people trying to preserve the Wasatch mountains from overdevelopment. Prominent figures in the Mountain Accord coalition suggest students and young individuals need to get involved in the planning process to let their voices be heard. It is really important that students and young people have a voice in the Mountain Accords future efforts, said Laynee Jones, Mountain Accords program director. We can structure our 4 r I recre- Mountain Accord sion of ski resorts base areas and contain eco- You can have a professional job and have access to incredible public lands and recreation without living the ski bum life, said Gagne, who moved to Salt Lake City from Vermont in pursuit of that lifestyle. Gagne said he has watched the number of recreational enthusiasts increase in the Central Wasatch over the past few years and does not see that changing anytime soon, which he said is the reason die Mountain Accord is important The Salt Lake Valley provides access to the nomic development, Trenbeath said Ski resorts, which are large stakeholders in the Wasatch, have outdoors and professional job opportunities like few places in the country. Some students come to land for land closer to the swapped base of the resort where development would be Salt Lake City, specifically Westminster College, high-alpi- ne permitted I have a glass perspective on the matter and stakeholders involved but am happy that Mountain Accord has a plan and is taking half-emp- ty initiative, said Greg Gagne, a computer science professor at Westminster College. Good plan- ning will limit how bad things will get in pursuit of that lifestyle. I came to Westminster to ski and employ my love for the outdoors through the community that exists here in Salt Lake, said Alex Mager, a senior from Minnesota who works as a brand manager for RedBulL Mountain Accord will affect more than the outdoor enthusiast in the Central Wasatch. The pretty special. The Mountain Accord is comprised of stakeholders and activists who want a say in the Cen- Plans to preserve land for recreational purposes could be the only option to ensure the longevity of these opportunities for future students ski bum, the desk worker, the CEO and the dent will also be affected. tral Wasatch Mountains future. at Westminster College and the growing population, according to Gagne. The valley is not getting any smaller; Gagne said More and more people are moving here. According to Utahs state website, Salt Lake cord, said the planning process lacks the voice of the student population the future of the Central Wasatch Mountains and surrounding valleys. this place is We are a coalition of government and private entities, local advocacy groups, federal agencies and the Forest Service who have come together to compromise, negotiate and agree on a future for the Central Wasatch Mountains, "Jones said The future of the Central Wasatch Range has also concerned individuals outside of the Moun Countys population has increased 2.7 percent in the past decade and is expected to double by the year 2030. stu- Jones, the program director for Mountain Ac- Students who share their voice and passion of the Central Wasatch Mountains with Mountain Accord have the ability to preserve the legacy of the Salt Lake Valley and Central Wasatch Mountains for generations to come, Jones said. |
