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The Evolution of Ski Resort Sustainability: From On-Mountain Efficiency to Environmental Activism By Kate M. Prendergast Department of Environmental Science Allegheny College Meadville, Pennsylvania April 2011 Name: Kate Prendergast Date: Spring, 2011 Major: Environmental Studies Thesis Committee: Dr. Michael Maniates, Dr. Richard Bowden Title: The Evolution of Ski Resort Sustainability: From On-Mountain Efficiency to Environmental Activism Abstract: Because ski resorts rely on stable environmental conditions and pristine mountain landscapes for their success, the resort industry has a major stake in the climate change issue. This research project examines the steps the industry has taken to address its environmental impacts, from on- mountain mitigation strategies to political advocacy. Research into ski resort impacts and mitigation and interviews with industry leaders were conducted to gather the data used in this project. There is significant data available regarding resort impacts, but little academic information that addresses the current state of ski resort sustainability. Resorts must be taken at their word regarding many environmental claims, and the industry has been accused of greenwashing. Therefore, further research into ski resort sustainability is needed to close this gap. Moving forward, the industry must find strategies to encourage broader participation in sustainability frameworks and climate policy to ensure the future of skiing and snowboarding. This study found that a stronger industry sustainability framework, national policy, and clean energy development may protect ski resorts from the negative effects of climate change on winter weather and mountain ecosystems. 1 Table of Contents Abstract 1 Acknowledgments 3 Introduction 4 Chapter 1: 10 Environmental Impacts & Mitigation of On-Mountain Operations Chapter 2: 27 Do Ski Industry Organizations & Voluntary Environmental Programs Actually Benefit the Environment? Chapter 3: 43 Resorts as Environmental Stewards & Activists Chapter 4: 58 The Future of Ski Resort Sustainability Appendix 1: 64 Tables References 65 2 Acknowledgements Thank you to my family for their constant support and encouragement throughout the research process. I'm sure I drove everyone at home crazy this past year, but somehow they kept me sane. I would also like to express my appreciation of Auden Schendler and Jamie Schectman, who answered all of the questions I posed to them. Thanks especially to Mr. Schendler for pushing me in a different direction than I had originally planned – my work turned out far better as a result. And to my adviser, Michael Maniates, who asked enough tough questions to get me thinking about their answers. 3 Introduction Ski and snowboard resorts are popular winter recreation destinations for outdoors enthusiasts; however, the industry has a paradoxically negative impact on the natural environment that skiers, snowboarders, and mountain resorts depend upon for recreation. These resorts rely on pristine mountain landscapes and snowy conditions to entice skier and snowboarder visitation. In the winter resort industry, business success and environmental conditions are intertwined: great quantities of snow and the appearance of an unspoiled mountain can draw more people to a resort. Increasingly, though, the industry is recognizing climate research that shows receding snow pack levels and changing patterns of winter precipitation. Against this background, the concept of ski resort sustainability is evolving as a measure to protect ski seasons for future generations. There are many reasons to ensure the vitality of the ski resort industry. Economically, it is an important sector, especially for the communities surrounding resorts (Del Matto, 2007). During the 2009-2010 winter season, 471 American ski and snowboard resorts (NSAA, 2010) catered to 8.7 million skiers and 6.2 million snowboarders (NSGA, 2010). The resort industry generated $2.5 billion in the same season (Ibisworld, 2010); this figure does not include the additional profits from retail sales of skiing and snowboarding clothing and equipment. Based on the amount of participants in these sports and the income generated by resorts, ski areas are an important sector of the tourism industry nationally. Ski resorts also have a major impact on their local economies by bringing in customers for area business and providing employment for residents of ski towns (Del Matto, 2007). Although the resort industry is an economically positive force in many ways, resort operations have intense negative impacts on the natural environment. These impacts include land clearing for resort and lodging development; energy and water use for lift operation and snowmaking; air, water, and soil pollution; vegetation disturbance and wildlife displacement from trail construction and maintenance; altered soil hydrology from ski trail grooming; and waste disposal. The everyday activities of ski and snowboard resorts stress the ecosystems on which the winter sports industry depends. These numerous environmental impacts are intensified by the innate fragility of mountain ecosystems and their slow rates of recovery (see Milne, et al, 4 2009; Schmidt, 2006; and Williams & Todd, 1997). Recent trends of increased development of new skiing trails and terrain parks further enhance these environmental concerns (NSAA, 2005). Because skiing and snowboarding are highly weather- and landscape-dependent activities, ecosystem protection is becoming an important industry goal. Ski resort sustainability means that resorts should aim to protect the mountain environment by reducing the impact of their operations. There may not be an economically-feasible way for resorts to achieve zero impact, however, so it should be noted that the term “sustainability” is not being used in the theoretical sense of having no impact on the environment, but instead is used here to indicate the minimized environmental impact that allows the skiing industry to prosper without degrading the mountains on which the industry relies. The International Institute for Sustainable Development defines sustainability for the business enterprise as “adopting business strategies and activities that meet the needs of the enterprise and its stakeholders today while protecting, sustaining and enhancing the human and natural resources that will be needed in the future” (IISD, 1992). This was among the first definitions for sustainable business practices; the definition is important because it stresses the dual goals of meeting practical business needs while also protecting the environment. Motivated by increasing public awareness of environmental issues and the risk of climate change vulnerability to resorts, the industry is attempting to increase its efficiency and decrease its impact on the mountain. In response to this public pressure and perceived risk, an industry- wide sustainability commitment was set in place by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). Many individual resorts have been progressively active in efforts to reduce their environmental impact, as evidenced by programs such as Aspen Snowmass’ Environment Foundation, Vail’s Echo program, Grand Targhee Resort's emissions inventory, and many other efforts. Resorts across the United States are investing in renewable energy credits, building wind turbines and solar arrays, conserving water, and instituting environmental awareness programs that target the skiers and snowboarders who visit their resorts. Some are endorsing climate legislation or actively lobbying Congress for stricter environmental regulations. This study focuses on the actions of ski areas located in the American West, which is defined as Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The major players in the arena of ski resort 5 sustainability in this region include the NSAA, the Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition (SACC), and the Aspen Ski Company, who can boast three resorts in a recent ranking of the nation's top ten most sustainable ski resorts (SACC, 2010). The NSAA and SACC have developed standards for water and energy use, waste reduction, and local habitat protection; these standards serve to encourage sustainability, and in the case of the SACC, they are the basis for evaluating ski resort efforts at protecting the environment. The NSAA is a powerful interest group whose member resorts comprise 70% of annual American skier and snowboarder visitation (NSAA, 2010). The organization encourages ski resorts to become more sustainable and also sponsors a grant program for resorts looking to invest in renewable energy and other impact mitigation programs. Since the NSAA has such widespread influence, their Sustainable Slopes program shows that ski resort sustainability is an important issue for the industry. Sustainability is also significant for the mountain towns that depend economically on the success of area resorts, and for approximately 15 million Americans who participate in recreational skiing and snowboarding each winter. The major question facing ski resorts with an interest in sustainability is where to focus their energies on the most effective sustainability initiatives with the greatest potential to protect the local environment. On the issue of climate change, individual resorts probably will not affect much change without collaboration with larger forces, such as utilities, environmental organizations, and federal, state, and local governing bodies. Some of the more progressive

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