Forest Service backs Mt. Rose ski resort expansion, bridge

The U.S. Forest Service has tentatively approved a plan to build two chairlifts and a snow bridge across a state highway southwest of Reno to allow skiers at the Mount Rose Ski resort to access 11 new trails proposed farther down the mountain.

Officials for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest released a draft record of decision Monday approving the resort’s expansion planned across 112 acres (45 hectares) north of the Mount Rose Highway.

The plan includes a new restroom, water pipeline and 5-million-gallon (19-million-litre) water tank to support snowmaking operations in the Atoma Area.

It would prohibit future development of commercial uses across all but about 180 of the 3,446 acres (72 of the 1,394 million hectares) on bordering national forest land. It’s subject to a 45-day public comment to field objections from those who already commented.