DMR HONORED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

CLIF® BAR recognizes DMR’s eco-efforts with Silver Eagle Award for Wildlife Habitat Protection

 

CLIF® BAR, the leading organic-certified energy bar, has honored Durango Mountain Resort with the 2010 Silver Eagle Award for Excellence in Fish and Wildlife Habitat Protection by a ski resort, one of the ski industry’s highest environmental honors. DMR was recognized for its comprehensive efforts in planning and implementing the Legends expansion project, which not only increased the resort’s total skiable acreage by 10 percent to 1,325 acres, but also improved the forest health and wildlife habitat.

DMR used only chain saws and hand tools to remove just standing dead timber, hazard trees and non-merchantable timber six inches or less in diameter. The resort used the most environmentally friendly clearing technique, known as the “lop-and-scatter method,” which eliminated the need for heavy machinery and left the cut trees on the forest floor to create habitat for wildlife.

“Durango Mountain Resort is honored to be recognized by Clif Bar and the National Ski Areas Association for our ongoing efforts on behalf of the environment,” said DMR CEO Gary Derck. “The Legends expansion was a long-term, collaborative effort between the resort and the U.S. Forest Service that ultimately improved both our terrain offering for our guests and the overall health of the forest and its inhabitants.”

The other finalists for the award were Mammoth Resort (CA) and Vail Resorts (CO). Judges for this year’s awards included: Michael Berry, NSAA president; John Steelman, Natural Resources Defense Council; Richard Cook, International Mountain Bicycling Association; Judy Dorsey, Brendle Group; Elysa Hammond, Clif Bar & Company; Loren Kroenke, USDA – Forest Service; Greg Owsley, New Belgium Brewing Company.

Established in 1993, the Golden and Silver Eagle Awards for Environmental Excellence recognize the environmental achievements of ski areas. The awards honor members of the NSAA, which represents the majority of ski area owners and operators in North America. Clif Bar & Company, which employs wind energy, biodiesel, waste reduction and other initiatives to reduce its own footprint on the planet, is the administrator of the awards program.