Footings Laid
Written 12/01/21
We've been steadily making progress on the construction of our new 6-pack bubble chairlift! Last month, our team laid the footings for the top 4 lift towers. Given that the elevation of the top three towers exceeds 2700 feet above sea level, it’s incredibly important to get as much work done as possible before April 15th. Between April 15th and August 15th, noisy construction is prohibited at elevations exceeding 2700 feet. That's because the Bicknell’s Thrush - a rare, migratory songbird - begins its breeding and nesting season during the Spring and Summer months.
The Bicknell’s Thrush is quite a special bird. With fewer than 100,000 individuals living across Northeastern America, the Bicknell’s Thrush is one of the Northeast's most at-risk migratory songbirds. The Bicknell’s Thrush is known as an "extreme habitat specialist", meaning they can only survive and thrive within very specific environments. This bird only nests within mountainous regions of the Northeast, within forests that are mainly populated by Fir trees. There only remains 110,934 ha of land in the United States that the Bicknell’s Thrush can survive in, with New Hampshire accounting for 45% of that remaining land. In addition to climate change, one of the largest threats to the Bicknell Thrush species is recreational ski area development. That's why Waterville Valley Resort works hand-in-hand with National Forest Service. We develop our ski area land in an environmentally conscious manner, respecting, appreciating, and protecting the natural environment and the species that call it home.
Sources
Conservation Assessment for Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli), USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region. November 2001. Woodstock, VT.