Sustainable Action Committee Biannual Report – June 2024

The SAC has around 10 active members. The Committee is actively seeking additional members from different departments. The Committee is currently heavy with representation from Marketing and Operations.

PRIORITIES

Habitat Conservation Plans for Rusty Patch Bumblebee & Cheat Mountain Salamander

We are seeking partial matching funds to apply for a $1.6MIL federal wildlife grant to pursue these plans. We currently have the only active habitat conservation plan in West Virginia with the Northern Flying Squirrel. These plans are essential and beneficial for every homeowner and investor in the Snowshoe region. Habitat conservation plans ease the path for new development and real estate sales for all interested parties when there is an endangered species in play.

Northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus

Cheat Mountain Salamander, Plethodon nettingi

We have applied for or are in negotiations with various regional groups to find matching funds needed to engage a consulting firm to assist with the grant and plan. At this time the Snowshoe Resort Community District has committed to support this project and we will be hiring a consulting firm this month. We are also in talks with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources to be our local government sponsor for the federal grant.

Recycling Project

We are currently in negotiations with partner Circular Solutions to start a recycling project that will cover cardboard and aluminum. Recycling is exceptionally difficult in our remote area due to the lack of places to take the materials. Our partnership will help us gain the machinery needed and transportation to make this happen! We are excited to have this opportunity and hope to have at least the beginnings of this in place by winter, if not earlier. We need the homeowner, local, and guest community to help us out by recycling as much material as possible in the initial years to make this feasible and larger going forward. Look for more details in the future in SAC reports, homeowner newsletters, and HOA newsletters.

Bee City

New flower seeds were secured with funding from the Pocahontas Country Convention and Visitors Bureau (PCCVB) and planting has been completed to expand Bee City by an additional 2 acres. In addition to being an environmentally friendly project, this has become a popular hike. We encourage guests and employees alike to make the trek. The route is moderate, and rewards hikers with beautiful mountain views framing the flower fields. The Pollinator Garden is marked on the Snowshoe Backcountry Map which can be found online or at the volunteer shack in the Village. We will celebrate the bees again this summer with the Bee City event in August.

Achievements

Resort Clean Up Day

Held this past Spring, on April 22, over 130 employees and volunteers spent a sunny morning cleaning up over 190 bags of refuse from all over the mountain. Resort Clean Up Day was seamless event with the best participation we have had in many years. Thank you to all involved and especially to Seth Burdette for organizing and the F&B team for delivering a great meal to all participants. Additional support was received from the PCCVB and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection in supplying bags, trash pickers, and gloves for the participants.

Climate Challenge

Submitted to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) on June 14th. Thank you to Pam Wamsley & Shawn Cassell for keeping us on track!

Solar Panel Project at The Inn at Snowshoe

Made possible with Alterra’s support, this project can potentially generate up to 414,861 kWh of power throughout the year, enough to power 39 average households. The installation of 734 panels with a system size of 353.32kW is now complete and the system should be online in early July. Snowshoe contracted Solar Holler, a WV based solar company for the inception and installation of this project. We are very excited to see it in action.