Global warming may hit Park City snow

PARK CITY — Climate change could make this trendy tourist town lose one-third of its ski days by 2075, according to a new report by Stratus Consulting.

By 2030, the temperature could increase by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius, and by 2050, the snow-sports industry could lose the spring break and Thanksgiving holidays, according to the report.

The Boulder, Colo.-based scientists used six climate-change models to determine the likely effect of climate change and greenhouse-gas emissions on the Park City ski season.

Study results were presented last week during the second Save Our Snow symposium at the Eccles Center for Performing Arts.

"If the snow goes, so does the rest of the business," said Park City resident Matt Alveraz, who attended the city-sponsored event with his wife. "I think the same goes for the state of Utah."

The economic impact on Park City could be huge, according to economist and Stratus Consulting principal David Chapman.

Global warming is expected to have a bigger impact on the United States than the rest of the world, focusing on the American West, according to Stratus Consulting senior scientist Brian Lazar.

In 2009, Park City will make about $900 million from the ski industry, Lazar said.

By 2030, Chapman predicted, the city and surrounding area will have about $120 million in economic losses and 1,137 fewer jobs. By 2050, losses could reach between $160.4 million and $392.3 million, with as many as 3,717 fewer jobs.

But the evening's keynote speaker, oceanographer David Gallo, told the crowd of about 800 that hope is not lost.

"Making little changes eventually adds up to a huge difference for the oceans," Gallo said, explaining that earth's water holds much of its heat. "This is a solvable problem. It's not impossible."

Park City environmental-sustainability director Diane Foster directed area residents to a new Web site to learn about individual impact on climate change.

The site, parkcitygreen.org, includes several calculators for factors such as water use and trash generation. The site links directly to city water billing and the Rocky Mountain Power Web site to provide calculations that Foster called unprecedented in their specificity.

The site also helps users create a plan for reducing impact. They are encouraged to do things like switch to energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances and air dry clothing.

The site was funded by a grant from the Knight Foundation, routed through the Park City Foundation. The site will track data from the community as a whole, and progress will be reported weekly on local radio station KCPW.

"We are an example community. People do watch what we do," Foster said. "If we show that this actually works, because we're in a municipality, we can make this available to other communities."

To read a full copy of the Stratus Consulting Report, go to parkcitygreen.org/Community/Community-Footprint/Save-Our-Snow-%281%29.aspx.

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com