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The proposal includes the net reduction of the ski area leasehold by 669 hectares, or close to 30 per cent — the equivalent of Jasper’s Marmot Basin and Banff’s Mount Norquay ski areas combined or, for the non-skiers, the size of 800 Canadian football fields.

Photo by Parks Canada

Lake Louise ski officials said it’s a victory for everyone using the national park.

“Almost half of our leasehold is being given back to the park … for protection,” said Dan Markham, a spokesman for the Lake Louise Ski Resort. “In exchange for that, some of the area that is closer to our leasehold, we’ll gain some access to that.

“All in all, it’s about a 30 per cent reduction in our leasehold.”

The area that would be returned to wilderness includes the undeveloped Purple and Wolverine Bowls, and sections of the Whitehorn wildlife corridor, which are used by animals such as grizzly bears and lynx.

By returning the area to wilderness, Lake Louise would then have an option to open West Bowl, Hidden Bowl, Richardson’s Ridge and West Juniper to skiers and snowboarders.

It could allow Lake Louise to accommodate up to 11,500 visitors daily — up from 6,000 — on every type of terrain from beginner to advanced over the next decade.

Other proposed changes include building a reservoir that would reduce the need to draw from streams for snowmaking and allowing parking for up to 3,256 vehicles and 50 buses.

The summer operations at Lake Louise could also change, building a new lodge on Eagle’s Ridge, higher up the mountain, to have the ski area stop using the Whitehorn Lodge in the summer and reduce the proximity to important grizzly bear habitat.