High and dry

And now from the Downer Department comes the 2018 economic report from Protect Our Winters, aka POW. “The Economic Contributions of Winter Sports in a Changing Climate” was released in February and takes a sobering look at what we have to lose with shorter, warmer winters.

According to the study, in the winter of 2015– 16, more than 20 million people participated in snowsports nationally. In total, skiing and snow-boarding generated 191,000 jobs, $6.9 billion in wages and added $11.3 billion to the national economy. In Colorado, skiing and snowboarding added 43,294 jobs and $2.6 billion to the economy.

According to the report – which was compiled before the dismal season of 2017-18 – skier visits drop by about 5.5 million from the national average of 55.4 million during low snow years. This spells a loss of about $1 billion and 17,400 jobs.

The finger of blame points to human-caused climate change. According to SNOTEL data, which has been tracking snow at remote, high-elevation stations, there has been a 10–20 percent loss in annual snow water equivalent since record-keeping began in the 1960s. And the drop cannot be explained away by natural forces, like volcanoes or solar activity. But there is a silver lining. Modeling shows, best-case scenario – i.e. immediate and drastic reductions in global greenhouse emissions – temperatures will remain unchanged through 2100. Worst case? Break out the mountain bikes.

To read the report, go to protectourwinters.org.