Proposed Expansion at Grand Targhee Resort

A Community Assessment

What is it?

This community assessment outlines the potential impacts of the proposed Grand Targhee Resort expansion and other Master Development Plan projects. This assessment predates the release of Caribou-Targhee National Forest’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement and was created by the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance (JHCA), Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA), Valley Advocates for Responsible Development (VARD), Teton Backcountry Alliance (TBCA), and contributing topic experts to provide community members with a review of the proposed project and to ultimately aid individuals and organizations in writing effective comment letters throughout the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process.

Initial review of the project and proposed expansion reveals a number of significant issues and potential impacts, for example: development next to the Jedediah Smith Wilderness and the degradation of the wilderness experience; deterioration of the Teton Canyon and Mill Creek areas; degradation of regional scenic values; threats to public safety, including wildfires and avalanches; and damage to biological resources, including critical wildlife habitat.

JHCA, WWA, VARD, and TBCA engaged local and regional experts to research and produce the following impact assessment.This document is intended to help you, citizens of the Teton Region, understand the implications of the proposal and how they are likely to affect our communities, lifeways, and core values. Should you have comments on the contents of this report, please write info@grandtargheeca.org. We welcome your feedback.