On April 7, our forest health and fuels practice received exciting news: the U.S. Forest Service- Tahoe National Forest announced the public release of the final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) and the draft Record of Decision (Draft ROD) for the North Yuba Landscape Resilience Project.

The North Yuba landscape (CA), a critical watershed that supports substantial forest habitat, high biodiversity, and excellent recreation opportunities, is one of the most at-risk areas for catastrophic wildfire in the US. With this Final EIS and Draft ROD published, the Tahoe National Forest, in partnership with the National Forest Foundation, is one step closer to having the ‘green light’ to be begin its first phase of vegetation and fuels management implementation projects for this 275,000-acre landscape. These fuels reduction efforts would significantly lower wildfire risk to protect communities, while also preserving forest health and habitats. A Final ROD is expected this summer.

SE Group supported the development of the Final EIS and Draft ROD in partnership with the Forest Service and Ascent, the third-party NYLRP NEPA lead. This was a big effort from our team, led by Ashley Smith, Tyler Ford, and Catherine Winnop; the sheer size of the North Yuba landscape made this a highly complex project.

For more details: $117 million awarded to reduce wildfire risk on the North Yuba Landscape

SE Group is proud to be a part of a team that recently won Premier Hospitality Magazine‘s 2022 Hospitality Design Award for ‘Best Event Space’ for the Rosebrook Lodge at Omni Hotels & Resorts’ Bretton Woods ski area at Mt. Washington. The 16,500 square foot lodge, which officially opened at the end of 2020, is perched near the top of the mountain, offering spectacular views across the Presidential Range. Skiers and hikers can easily access the year-round lodge via the Skyway Gondola, which SE Group also designed!

SE Group’s teams collaborated to ensure the lodge fit seamlessly within the larger Bretton Woods ecosystem, in addition to designing all of the plaza and terrace spaces. Our project partners included Bull Stockwell Allen (building design), TruexCullins Architecture + Interior Design (interior design), Horizons Engineering (civil engineering), and MWHarris Lighting Studio (light design). Congrats to all of the partners on this impressive space!

You can read more about the award in Premier Hospitality’s fall feature.  The next time you visit Mount Washington, make sure to get a meal at the Switchback Grille and enjoy this amazing setting!

This past February, SE Group team members Drew Pollak-Bruce, Tom Hand, and Liz Grades volunteered their time to help the Catamount Trail Association (CTA) install four SE Group trail counters in newly created backcountry ski zones in Central Vermont. These counters will enable CTA to gain valuable use data, while working with state and federal authorities to support the maintenance and continued expansion of terrain. SE Group is excited about this ongoing volunteer opportunity with a local non-profit dedicated to preserving and maintaining one of Vermont’s most valued recreational resources.

Check out the short video Greg Maino of the CTA put together of their outing. A more in depth production is in the works, so stay tuned!

Watch the following video which pays tribute to Joe’s legacy.

In response to the forced closure of the Waterbury State Office Complex as a result of flooding from Hurricane Irene, Governor Shumlin and the Vermont Legislature commissioned a Feasibility Study to review and evaluate a series of development alternatives to find the workforce a home.

Working with an extreme sense of urgency, SE Group provided concept master planning services in conjunction with Freeman French Freeman and Goody Clancy Architects in the evaluation of the potential development alternatives.

After critical review and evaluation, a bold vision was selected for the Waterbury site alternative. Currently in design development, the solution calls for a simplified circulation system, renovated historic core Architecture, an energy efficient new office space which serves as the main entry, restoration of the riparian buffer zone and integration of pedestrian circulation with a regional trail system.