Climate changing taking a toll on California ski industry
By Mark Glover, Sacramento Bee
A warming climate is melting California’s winter tourism dollars.
That’s the conclusion of a new economic analysis released Thursday.
The study – titled “Climate Impacts on the Winter Tourism Economy in the United States” and written by two University of New Hampshire researchers – said California and 37 other states have lost an estimated $1 billion and up to 27,000 jobs over the last decade alone due to less snowfall and shorter winters that research indicates are linked to global climate change.
Snowmaking at Tahoe resorts helps supplement the natural white stuff. Photo/LTN file
The report warned that a continuation of the global warming trend could result in the loss of thousands more jobs at ski resorts and create numerous related economic setbacks, costing billions in lost revenue and tax dollars.
The report, released by the advocacy groups Protect Our Winters in Pacific Palisades and the Natural Resources Defense Council in New York, offered this grim look at the future: “Without intervention, winter temperatures are projected to warm an additional 4 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, with subsequent decreases in snow cover area, snowfall and (a) shorter snow season. Snow depths could decline in the West by 25 to 100 percent ….”
The related effects would include economic and job losses in the restaurant/hotel industries, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as a reduced tax base, possible winter resort closures and sharp declines in sales of winter sports equipment.
The report calls for the winter tourism industry to press federal lawmakers and the Obama administration for further action to reduce carbon pollution. Officials particularly focused on a revised pollution standard for large power plants.
The report cited an industry survey that said 50 percent of responding U.S. ski areas opened late in 2011 and 48 percent closed early.
“This spells significant economic uncertainty for a winter sports industry deeply dependent upon predictable, heavy snowfall,” said Elizabeth Burakowski, co-author of the report.
For California’s winter sports industry, the potential downfalls are significant.
During the 2009-10 winter sports season, the most recent measured by the report’s authors, nearly 24,000 jobs were supported by the industry in California, providing an economic boost of $1.37 billion statewide. Labor income alone that year was put at $787 million.
The report cited evidence of reduced activity as a result of low snow years. It said California saw a nearly 5 percent loss in skier visits to resorts between high and low snowfall years from November 1999 to April 2010, with a projected economic loss of $75.2 million over that period.
Burakowski said California stands to be one of the most affected states, noting that “snow is currency.”
The Lakewood, Colo.-based National Ski Areas Association released a statement Thursday saying that “resorts nationwide are taking meaningful steps toward combating climate change.”
That includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions through investments in wind, solar, geothermal micro-hydro and other sources.
“Ski areas have not been on the sidelines when it comes to climate change,” said Michael Berry, NSAA president.
“The ski industry took a leadership role on this issue over a decade ago, and we continue to advance that mission.”
Berry added that the industry remains optimistic about the future. He said U.S. winter resort areas have enjoyed the best 10-year average on record, with 57.5 million skier and snowboarder visits on average nationally.
After a year of unprecedented warmth – both during the winter and summer months – the great debate over whether or not Old Man Winter will return with a vengeance is on.
Last winter was the fourth warmest for the contiguous 48 since record keeping began in 1895, with 24 states experiencing below-normal precipitation. In fact, California experienced its second driest winter ever. In only 10 states—chiefly across the nation’s midsection— was winter precipitation above normal.
The situation became critical this past spring and summer with broiling hot temperatures across much of the country and the most severe drought conditions the nation has seen in more than 50 years.
For the coming season, we’re predicting that winter will return to some – but not all – areas. We think it will be a “winter of contraries, as if Old Man Winter were cutting the country in half. The eastern half of the country will see plenty of cold and snow. The western half will experience relatively warm and dry conditions. In other words, as in the political arena, the climate this winter will render us a nation divided.
We predict that real winter weather will return to areas from the Great Lakes into the Northeast. Most eastern states – as far south as the Gulf Coast – will see snowier than normal conditions and cooler temperatures.
We are “red flagging” February 12–15 and March 20–23 for major coastal storms along the Atlantic seaboard; storms bringing strong winds and heavy precipitation.
But on the other side of the country, winter will continue its hiatus for another year. The forecast for west of the Continental Divide – the Pacific Northwest, desert Southwest, Pacific Coast – calls for mild temperatures and below-normal precipitation.
For much of the drought-stricken prairie region, an average amount of winter precipitation will bring long awaited relief.
Why can’t the climate just stay the same year after year and decade after decade and century after century, ad nauseaum.
Why isn’t Tahoe under a sheet of ice like it was just a few thousand years ago? Oh yes, now I remember. All that CO2 created by early inhabitants.
And now modern man has doubled down and will turn the entire earth into one big hot house.
This article by an “advocacy group” is worthless on its face as an infomercial touting milfoil greens for treating hair loss. I know I tried milfoil for my thinning locks and it didn’t work.
I now want to make a stupid prediction. That is the week of Feb. 10th and March 11th will each have over 15 feet of snow fall. This will make resupplying SLT impossible and food riots will break out. Also all our local police will be out on medical leave from job related injuries and other agenicies can’t help because all roads are closed and the airport was shut down. The snow will turn red from carnage with total anarchy prevailing.
Let’s form a committee to prepare for the
coming disaster.
My scenario is just as foolish and fictional as the above article but more fun and better movie material.
“My scenario is just as foolish and fictional as the above article but more fun and better movie material.”
No it isn’t. Your reality lacks any legitimate science on this matter.
I bet you can’t post any links to published research that supports your most basic assumptions. Scratch that, I know you can’t.