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100 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 | Ph:617.423.5775 | Fax:617.423.5858
DID YOU KNOW....
The average US citizen pays approx. 25% of their gross annual income to pay mortgage or rent. The ski area developers at Mt. Wachusett pay only 3% of their gross annual income (income approx. $10 million) to lease 450 acres of Wachusett Mountain State Reservation from the commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Mt. Wachusett, located
in central Massachusetts, is a public parkland and the state’s highest
peak east of the Connecticut River. The park is home to the state’s
second largest stand of Old Growth Forest, hailed by scientists from all
over the world for its unique features and value as a historical and scientific
resource. Also located on Mt Wachusett is a commercial downhill ski area,
privately owned and operated by Wachusett Mountain Associates (WMA), who
have proposed to expand their extremely crowded - and extremely profitable
- ski facility. The family who owns WMA (as well as the Polar and Adirondack
Beverage Corporations) leases the land form the Department of Environmental
Management (DEM), the state agency responsible for protecting, not developing,
the reservation. Unfortunately, DEM thinks it’s a good idea to allow
a private developer to unnecessarily clearcut rare forest habitat on our
state parks, all for private profit.
Ski Area Expansion will cause:
• Clearcutting of more than 12.5 acres of forest, including majestic
stands of 140 year old mature Northern Red Oak.
• Destruction of biologically diverse habitat within a buffer zone
for the Old Growth Forest.
• Increased erosion and runoff from trail clearing, blasting and
excavation.
• More areas of the park becoming “off limits” to hikers
and other passive users of the mountain.
• Increased damage to the Old Growth Forest from higher skier numbers
and increased snowmaking operations.
WHAT YOU CAN DO