Dover, VT – The Hermitage Club, a private ski area on the site of the former Haystack Ski Area in southern Vermont, has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for permission to build a new snowmaking reservoir as part of the resort’s redevelopment.

The Hermitage Club is proposing to place fill in 1.6 acres of water, and to clear an additional 0.13 acre of forested wetland. The work would also involve an upgrade and expansion of the ski area’s existing snowmaking system and additional trail coverage.

The existing Mirror Lake snowmaking pond near the base of the ski area would be expanded by another 1.58 acres. In addition, the existing Cold Brook withdrawal upgaded by removing the old diversion dam and replacing it with an inflatable one. Finally, a new “Siegel Pond” snowmaking pond would be constructed south of Mirror Lake and north of Haystack Brook.

At the moment, Hermitage Club shares Mirror Lake’s water with nearby Mount Snow Resort, until the tie-in to Mount Snow’s new West Lake water source is completed.

Hermitage Club has proposed making a payment to the Ducks Unlimited – Vermont In-Lieu Fee Program as compensation for the disturbed wetlands.

The project’s goal is to increase trail acreage from 147 aces to 193.3 acres and to increase snowmaking coverage on Haystack Mountain Ski Area from 127.4 acres, representing 87 percent of the current total of 147 acres of terrain, to 100 percent coverage of the proposed 193.3 acres of skiable terrain.

The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands.