Save Our Canyons recently reached another critical milestone in our ongoing litigation against the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), with respect to our efforts to stop the proposed gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon. After months of anticipation, we have received the Administrative Record from UDOT—an extensive collection of over 200,000 pages of documents. This trove includes every decision, report, public comment, environmental analysis, and technical study that UDOT has relied upon in its process to justify building the gondola and will be the basis for the court’s review. Between now and the end of the year, our attorneys will work to ensure that this record is complete and accurate, including seeking additional documents, if any, that UDOT has improperly withheld.
Why the Administrative Record is Important
The Administrative Record is an essential piece of our legal case. It contains all the foundational documents and analyses that UDOT has used to make its Record of Decision, selecting the gondola as the preferred alternative to address transportation issues in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Reviewing these 200,000 pages will enable our legal team to critically evaluate every step UDOT took to justify this decision, highlighting any missteps, oversights, or violations of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This deep analysis is crucial for building our case to show that the gondola project is not only an unsound solution but also one that unlawfully undercuts the interests of our community and our public lands.
The sheer volume of this documentation underscores the complexity and significance of this case. Our team of attorneys will be combing through thousands of pages to identify every detail that supports our arguments, from flawed environmental impact statements to disregarded public input.
Protecting Little Cottonwood Canyon and the Community
The gondola proposal presents numerous threats to the unique environmental and recreational value of Little Cottonwood Canyon. If built, it would cut across this one-of-a-kind landscape, harming its scenic views, disturbing wildlife, and impacting wetlands and water resources. Additionally, the gondola’s price tag (estimated to cost Utah taxpayers up to a billion dollars) calls into question the long-term value of such a project, especially when alternative, less invasive solutions could achieve the same transportation goals.
We are committed to ensuring that Little Cottonwood Canyon remains accessible to everyone, not only to those who can afford the substantial price of gondola tickets. We believe that transportation solutions should benefit all canyon users, including hikers, climbers, backcountry skiers, and families who enjoy the canyon for its natural beauty and solitude.
UDOT’s Hypocrisy - Land Acquisition at the base of LCC
UDOT is currently negotiating a land acquisition near the proposed gondola base station in Little Cottonwood Canyon, purchased using a right-of-way preservation fund to acquire what could become additional parking near the base station. Despite UDOT’s assurances that it cannot advance any part of the gondola project while litigation is ongoing, these acquisitions reveal a different reality—one where UDOT appears to be quietly laying the groundwork for future construction and placing a thumb on the scale in favor of UDOT’s preferred alternative. This underscores the urgency of Save Our Canyons' litigation and reinforces why we must press forward with our efforts to protect the canyon from unnecessary development.
This situation also emphasizes the need to hold UDOT accountable for exploring realistic, canyon-compatible transportation alternatives before resorting to the gondola. We must continue urging elected officials to establish clear metrics for bus and toll-based solutions. If effective, these would eliminate the need for a costly gondola that disrupts the canyon’s unique environment and character. Additionally, we must ensure that no new public funding is appropriated for gondola-related expenses during the upcoming legislative session, protecting taxpayer dollars from being funneled into an unsustainable project.
Why We Need Your Support Now More Than Ever
The battle to protect Little Cottonwood Canyon from the gondola is no small feat, and our legal campaign to challenge UDOT’s decision is both time-consuming and financially demanding. Reviewing the Administrative Record alone requires dozens of hours of skilled legal work, not to mention the additional costs associated with filing court documents and preparing for court hearings.
That’s where we need your help. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Save Our Canyons relies on the generosity of individuals like you who care deeply about the Wasatch Mountains. By donating today, you can directly support our litigation efforts and help us defend Little Cottonwood Canyon from this unnecessary and damaging project. Every dollar donated goes directly toward protecting our canyons, sustaining our legal work, and standing up against powerful interests that seek to profit at the expense of our public lands.
How You Can Help
Now is a critical time for Save Our Canyons and for Little Cottonwood Canyon. By making a donation today, you become a part of this historic effort to safeguard one of Utah’s natural treasures. Whether you can give $25, $100, or more, every contribution strengthens our ability to see this case through. We invite you to join us in this fight, stand with us in protecting the Wasatch Mountains, and make your voice heard.
Together, we can preserve Little Cottonwood Canyon as a place of solace, beauty, and adventure, free from the threat of unsustainable development. To donate and learn more about our case, please visit our donation page at SaveOurCanyons.org and follow our progress as we continue this critical fight for our public lands in Little Cottonwood Canyon and across the Wasatch Mountains.
