VAIL CLIMATE CHANGE RISK

ASSEMENT Mckenzie Harris

VAIL MOUNTAIN

o 3RD largest single mountain resort in the United States

oThe most visited ski resort in the US

oOwned by Vail Resorts which also owns Breckenridge, Keystone, and Beaver Creek in Colorado, Heavenly and Northstar in California, and Park City Mountain Resort in Utah

oThe most popular ski resorts in Colorado and brings in many international tourism

CLIMATE HAZARDSoAverage annual temperature is 2 degrees higher than three decades ago and scientists say it will increase by 2.5 – 6.5 degrees by 2050, wildfires and heatwaves are more common

oWarmer fall temps cause delayed openings of Vail and other major ski resorts

oIn 2014, The temperature in the fall was 4 degrees higher than average which meant they could use snow making machines. This delayed the opening dates from October 31st to Thanksgiving weekend

oThe warmer temperature means snow is melting faster which is a threat to spring skiing

oSnow is melting 15-30 days earlier than 25 years ago

o“I think it’s time for the ski industry to shift the season from October to April to something that makes more sense, like December through May,” said Dillon resident Chuck Savall.

VULNERABILITIES

oVail Valley relies heavily on the ski season starting in the fall and ending in the spring

oThis effects local restaurants, ski and snowboard rentals, lodging and other local businesses

oThe resort itself spends a lot of money to try to open when scheduled including more staff and more equipment.

oBecause Vail and surrounding towns, as well as Colorado as a whole, is so reliant on the revenue from snow-based recreation, the risk is especially high.

ADAPTIVE CAPACITY

oRight now the only thing Vail is doing to adapt to warmer temperatures is to spend more money trying to make snow than deal with the problem.

oVail needs to focus more on mitigation than adaptation.

o“Ski resort CEOs and trade groups leaders have a fiscal responsibility to both understand climate change and respond at scale. That should be the industry’s highest priority,” said Schendler.

oParticipate the National Ski Area Association report on sustainable slopes in Colorado and join their Climate challenge.

oNSAA’s climate challenge is a program designed to help ski areas set goals for carbon reduction and measure the success in reducing their carbon footprint.

CAPACITY TO CHANGE

oSet up skier transportation programs- encourage skiers to carpool especially skiers from Boulder and Denver

oSkier education and communication- Vail is the largest and most visited ski resort in the US, Approx. 1,634,250 annually, if they implemented green practices it would have a very large effect.

o Comprehensive reduction planning- need a climate action plan and integrate it into planning and budget activities. The resort and town should link up when creating a plan to be more green.

oImplement greener practices in all resorts owned by Vail Resorts

RESOURCES http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2014/08/05/new-report-highlights-how-climate-change-may-affect-water-colorado

http://cwcb.state.co.us/environment/climate-change/Documents/COClimateReportOnePager.pdf

http://www.coloradoindependent.com/150106/global-warming-takes-bite-out-of-colorado-ski-season

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/us/climate-change-threatens-ski-industrys-livelihood.html?_r=0

http://www.aspentimes.com/news/regional/9485049-113/climate-ski-resorts-winter

http://www.nsaa.org/media/210657/SSAR_2014.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vail_Ski_Resort#1970.27s