Mountain Accord
The Central Wasatch Commission is the governmental entity that the Mountain Accord charter called to create. Upon its creation, the Central Wasatch Commission was tasked with carrying out projects initiated during the Mountain Accord process including federal legislation, the Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Area Act, the Environmental Dashboard, and canyon transportation improvements.
What was Agreed Upon in the Mountain Accord Charter
History
In 2013, local elected leaders, transportation officials, the general managers of the Cottonwood Canyon ski resorts, private property owners, representatives from the environmental and recreational communities, and others organized to develop a plan to sustain the Central Wasatch Mountain Range for generations to come, and to plan for increased visitation and use of the mountains. These groups first established a baseline each focus area, and how it may exist in the future, a collection of visions, goals and ways to measure progress and created a set of “perfect world” Idealized Systems for each area. This work led to the Mountain Accord Blueprint, a proposal that examined each area in detail and proposed suggestions and possibilities for the future. A public comment period concluded on May 1, 2015.
The two-year process, culminated in the Mountain Accord charter, proposed plans to address the four major issues affecting the longevity of the mountains – environment, recreation, transportation, and economy. The goal was to create and build a consensus that would include responsible stewardship of natural resources, preservation of quality recreation experiences, establish an environmentally sustainable transportation system, and contribute to a vibrant economy.
The Mountain Accord charter also called for the creation of a governmental entity to coordinate among the many stakeholders in the Central Wasatch Mountains, and to carry out the plans for each of the four issue areas. The Mountain Accord charter, signed in August 2015, is the consensus position of the Executive Board members and over 150 signatories. In September 2016, the Mountain Accord Final Report was released. The final report summarizes the process the various stakeholders undertook. You may also read a summary of the Mountain Accord here.
Systems Groups and other Mountain Accord Meetings
The four groups mentioned above were called Systems Groups. The System Groups and other committees met regularly during the Mountain Accord process. To view the meeting minutes and other information about these groups, see below.