Donner Summit is one of the truly historical landscapes of the Sierra Nevada, treasured by many throughout California, Nevada and the world. Visitors, hikers, skiers, naturalists, historians, climbers, train buffs, second homeowners and residents alike have enjoyed and continue to enjoy Donner Summit's unique environment and offerings.

Donner Summit with its irreplaceable resources is now at risk: in 2005, Foster-Syme, or Royal Gorge LLC, the partnership of Foster Enterprises (controlled by the grandson of the Foster that created Foster City in the Bay Area) and Woodstock Development (controlled by Kirk Syme ), purchased Royal Gorge Cross-Country Ski Area and 3,000 acres of adjacent private land, along with Ice Lakes Lodge and the historic Rainbow Lodge (Rainbow is now back on the market). The Foster-Syme group is proposing major development on Donner Summit in four separate locations. Their initial plans include 600+ "shared ownership" condominiums, two hotels, employee housing, several ski lifts and runs, two artificial lakes, and hundreds of home sites. Most of the development will be put right in the middle of currently pristine forest and meadow areas. Thousands of trees will have to be cut down. Roads, parking lots, ski lift corridors and ski runs will have to be plowed out of the forest. Erosion and watershed issues will effect both the South Yuba River and the North Fork of the American River as well as the local summit lakes and wetlands. Traffic, water supply, overcrowding, public safety, and sewer capacity are just a few of the additional concerns created by the proposal.

In late 2011, Royal Gorge LLC defaulted on their $16.8 million loan. The brokerage division of the receiver has put up for sale the entire 3500 acres including Summit Station, the Royal Gorge trails and Rainbow Lodge. During the sale period the receiver will continue to operate and keep open the Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski resort.

The Truckee Donner Land Trust is leading an effort to acquire the property. Hopefully a solution can be found to ensure that the land is preserved for future generations.

LATEST NEWS & OPINIONS.

July 2011 - Bank declares RG in default on its loan - The bank who inherited Royal Gorge loan has filed a notice of default with both the Placer and Nevada counties. It is unclear whether this is a maneuver by Royal Gorge to negotiate better terms from the bank, or if it has run out of money. In final analysis, the lack of water and capacity in the sewage plant make the proposed development unfeasible. Hopefully a solution can be found by the Truckee Land Trust to acquire the property for public use. The fixing of the contested SLCWD water rights and the design of the DSPUD sewage plant upgrade to meet new regulations are progressing.

January 2011 - The Donner Summit community is as active as ever with the launch of a new web site Explore Donner Summit, and the opening by the Donner Summit Historical Society of the "20 miles Museum ( pdf ). Both efforts are focused on helping the summit economy in a way compatible with the "Save Donner Summit" charter. Otherwise, no new news on the (Foster?)/Syme development front. When will Mr. Syme engage the community leaders into a constructive discussion? Do not the Historical Society Newsletters provide a great context to guide any future development?

July 2010 - A- Both DSPUD and SLCWD boards have approved the recommendations made in the ECO:LOGIC study for bringing the DSPUD waste water plant in compliance with its permit ( pdf). B- SLCWD has completed its study of the lake as a source of water, and expects to make it public soon. This essential document is one of the enablers for the Regional Water Control Board to rule on SLCWD contested water rights. C- County records show that Kirk Syme's "Woodstock Bowers LLC" has purchased Ice Lakes Lodge and Royal Gorge's Summit Station from Royal Gorge LLC. The transaction was recorded on December 23rd, 2009. Mr.Syme, in an email, says that Royal Gorge LLC (Foster and Syme together) still own the land slated for development, Rainbow Lodge and the nordic ski operation. He reports: "business as usual at Ice Lakes Lodge and Summit Station."

End of 2009 - The Serene Lake County District's water rights are still not resolved, but it is likely that the State will reduce its water allocation from the 1962 level of 1,177 acre-feet per year (AFY) to between 150 AFY (the current actual usage) and 350 AFY (the projected usage including unbuilt lots and future higher occupancy, but no further development). In the mean time, the District is expected to release the results of the study that it has conducted for the last few years to establish the amount of water under its jurisdiction and available to support the existing subdivisions and potential future developments. Such a document will help the community ensure proper management of water resources. Royal Gorge LLC. still has not filed any plan with Placer County. Foster/Syme has let it be known that the consortium is losing money and looking for a way out of their 2005 purchase. Setbacks have accumulated against their grandiose ill-conceived plan to transform Donner Summit into sprawling suburbia, as revealed by preliminary plans released to the public, but never filed with the County. 1- Sugar Bowl has withdrawn their "Letter of Intent" and will not pursue a ski lift connection between the resorts. 2- Placer County Planning Department has informed Royal Gorge that a second access road will be required to ensure the safety of existing and future residents (pdf). As per GAO data, the median cost of a lane mile in California is $2.214 million. 3- Ice thickness measurements made on March 11 2008 by the Sierra Lakes County Water District show that there is not much water under the ice covering the lakes in the winter, a concern which will hopefully be clarified by the previously mentioned water study. 4- A local Donner Summit resident, Jennifer Montgomery, soundly defeated incumbent Bruce Kranz, a recipient of Royal Gorge support, and is now the 5th District Placer County Supervisor. 5- DSPUD, the local utility which would process Royal Gorge LLC.'s waste water, keeps on violating its permit, and is maxed out (refer to year 2005 article Demand on the Summit and Royal Gorge Sewage or Squaring the Circle). The Regional Water Quality Control Board issued this month a new permit without granting any of the dilution credits requested by the District (A Victory for the South Yuba on Donner Summit). 6- Tough times to raise money in 2009! What a change since Foster-Syme bought the property in 2005! 7- Miner "Mickey" S. Gray III, a longtime Donner Summit resident, has been named as the 5th District representative on the Placer County Planning Commission. 8- The local utility (SLCWD)'s right to divert water from the lakes in the summer is now contested by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, following a complaint filed by a local resident (pdf). The issue is yet to be resolved, as the Regional Board is under pressure from Southern California farming interests to strictly enforce the regulations (pdf).
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ABOUT US

This web site is operated and owned by concerned citizens. It is dedicated to raising awareness about Foster-Syme plans. It attempts to give information and resources about the proposed development and its effect on the summit land, environment, communities and individuals. We make available a bumper sticker `Save Donner Summit` to create global awareness. We also provide updates top of this page.

The savedonnersummit.org is just a website; we don't accept donations (but we encourage you to support and donate to local groups). We don't have a contact page because we are not a legal 'entity'. However, if you have a comment or question about this website, something you wish to add or correct, please email to the Webmaster. And if your are bored you can read some legal stuff.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Want to get involved? See our What can I do? Who can I contact? page. Become familiar with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Concerned citizens (including many from outside the local community) are working with existing conservation and community groups on a long-term strategic campaign to defend the Donner Summit area and safeguard its future for generations to come. These groups have concerns about the impact of irresponsible development on Donner Summit. Each has its own approach and focus. For examples, Save Serene Lakes provides the latest news and status, and Sierra Watch is bringing its extensive experience gained in the Martis Valley controversy. You find links below, and a custom search which spans all these web sites and a few more related to Royal Gorge LLC. Join them and help `Save Donner Summit`.