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S. HRG. 110–1091 

THE ISSUE OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF GLOBAL 

WARMING ON RECREATION AND THE RECREATION INDUSTRY 

HEARING 

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND 

PUBLIC WORKS 

UNITED STATES SENATE 

ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS 

FIRST SESSION 

MAY 24, 2007 

Printed for the use of the Committee on Environment and Public Works 

( 

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress.senate 
(II) 

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS 

ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS 

FIRST SESSION 

BARBARA BOXER, California, Chairman 

MAX BAUCUS, Montana 

JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut 

THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware 

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, New York 

FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey 

BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland 

BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont 

AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota 

SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island 

JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma 

JOHN W. WARNER, Virginia 

GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio 

JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia 

DAVID VITTER, Louisiana 

LARRY E. CRAIG, Idaho 

LAMAR ALEXANDER, Tennessee 

CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming 

CHRISTOPHER S. BOND, Missouri 

BETTINA POIRIER, Majority Staff Director and Chief Counsel 

ANDREW WHEELER, Minority Staff Director 
(III) 

C O N T E N T S 

Page 

MAY 24, 2007 

OPENING STATEMENTS 

Boxer, Hon. Barbara, U.S. Senator from the State of California ........................ 1 

Klobuchar, Hon. Amy, U.S. Senator from the State of Minnesota ...................... 3 

Sanders, Hon. Bernard, U.S. Senator from the State of Vermont ....................... 5 

Lautenberg, Hon. Frank R., U.S. Senator from the State of New Jersey ........... 5 

Whitehouse, Hon. Sheldon, U.S. Senator from the State of Rhode Island ......... 7 

Inhofe, Hon. James M., U.S. Senator from the State of Oklahoma, prepared 

statement .............................................................................................................. 111 

WITNESSES 

Scott, Daniel, Canada research chair, Global Change and Tourism, Department of Geography, University of Waterloo ....................................................... 8 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 10 

Responses to additional questions from Senator Boxer ................................ 21 

Campion, Tom, founder, Zumiez, Inc. .................................................................... 25 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 27 

Huskins, Betty, chair, Southeast Tourism Policy Council, AdvantageWest ....... 67 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 69 

Watson, Bryant M., executive director, Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc. .............................................................................................................. 71 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 73 

Crandall, Derrick A., president, American Recreation Coalition ........................ 75 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 77 

Berry, Michael, president, National Ski Areas Association ................................. 82 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 84 

McCahill, Barry W., president, SUV Owners of America .................................... 86 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 87 

(1) 

THE ISSUE OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF 

GLOBAL WARMING ON RECREATION AND 

THE RECREATION INDUSTRY 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2007 

U.S. SENATE, 

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS, 

Washington, DC. 

The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:30 a.m. in room 

406, Dirksen Senate Office Building, the Hon. Barbara Boxer 

(chairman of the committee) presiding. 

Present: Senators Boxer, Lautenberg, Sanders, Klobuchar, 

Whitehouse. 

STATEMENT OF HON. BARBARA BOXER, U.S. SENATOR FROM 

THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

Senator BOXER. The meeting will come to order. I am very 

pleased to welcome the witnesses here today to discuss the impacts 

that global warming may have on outdoor recreation. 

Outdoor recreation is one of life’s greatest blessings. It is also an 

important economic engine for the United States. We have a very 

distinguished panel here, and if you give me a minute, I want to 

introduce some people that have come along because of their great 

interest in this subject. 

I don’t know if Senator Inhofe is coming today, but I want the 

word to go out if he does, I have a little global warming gift for 

him. He got me a global warming mug, which when you put hot 

water in it, the whole world melts away. 

[Laughter.] 

Senator BOXER. I have another really very nice gift for him. I 

hope he comes. 

I am just looking for my papers here, and I found them, because 

we do have some special people. Today on our witness list we have 

Dr. Daniel Scott, Canada research chair, Global Change and Tourism, Department of Geography, University of Waterloo; and Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Areas Association. 

Where is Tom? Tom, I missed you. Tom Campion is founder of 

Zumiez; Bryant Watson, Vermont Association of Snow Travelers; 

Betty Huskins, chair of the Southeast Tourism Policy Council, 

AdvantageWest; Derrick Crandall, president, American Recreation 

Coalition; and Barry McCahill, president, SUV Owners of America. 

I wanted to point out that Mr. Campion is accompanied by members of the Action Sports Environmental Coalition. I want to introduce these people to you and ask them to stand as I read their 
2 

name. We have world class skateboarder Bob Burnquist. Bob, welcome. We have former pro-snowboarder Circe Wallace. We welcome 

you. 

We have X–Games winner Jen O’Brien. We welcome you. We 

have executive director of the Action Sports Environmental Coalition Frank Scura; and we have the director of the Bob Burnquist 

Global Cooling Challenge, Scott Murray with us as well. 

So we just want to make sure the record showed you were here. 

If you have anything that you want to put into the record by way 

of statements, I will leave the record open until the end of the day 

today. 

So we know that outdoor recreation is something we have all had 

a chance to take advantage of, and we want it for future generations. We cherish the ability to spend time outside visiting our 

parks and forests, our oceans and beaches, and our mountain landscapes. 

Senator Lautenberg, will you sit here in Senator Baucus’s seat? 

Senator LAUTENBERG. My pleasure, Madam Chairman. 

Senator BOXER. Thank you. 

Some of us like to play golf. Some of us like to swim and fish. 

Some of us like to ski and use snowmobiles. Many of us enjoy touring our national parks and relaxing beside our beautiful coastlines. 

These activities sustain us and our culture, and contribute immensely to our overall well being. They also contribute a great deal 

to our national economy. 

Global warming can have a profound and negative impact on our 

outdoor recreation opportunities and businesses. We are already 

seeing decreases in the amount of snowpack in certain western 

areas of the United States. According to a 2004 study by the University of Washington, from 1950 to 1997, in some areas of Oregon, 

western Washington and northern California, snow packs shrank 

by 50 percent to 75 percent, with the dominant factor being global 

warming. 

Decreases in snowpack in the northern Rockies during that period range between 15 percent and 30 percent, and it is clear that 

many glaciers are melting in our national parks, including at Glacier National Park. According to the U.S. National Assessment, a 

major scientific review drafted by a team of leading experts from 

government, universities, industry and other institutions, the 

length of the snow season decreased by 16 days from 1951 to 1996 

in California and Nevada. 

These decreases in snowpack and in the length of the snow season can directly impact activities like skiing and snowmobiling, 

which are key aspects of outdoor winter recreation. 

Outdoor recreation is serious business as well. In 2006, national 

tourism-related sales amounted to $1.2 trillion—$1.2 trillion—and 

were responsible for over 8 million jobs. Around here, we have a 

lot of voices calling for more jobs. Senator Sanders has been one 

of our leaders on this. Here we have an industry that is responsible, Senator, for 8 million jobs. 

International travel, which ranks ahead of agriculture and automobile production as a net export, accounted for $107.4 billion in 

sales. For California, direct spending in 2006 provided $94 billion 

and supported more than 900,000 jobs. 
3 

Senator would you move up and sit next to Senator Klobuchar? 

This is called instant seniority. Don’t let it go to your head. 

[Laughter.] 

Senator BOXER. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 

has recently said that it is virtually certain that warmer temperatures will have effects on winter tourism. The IPCC’s second report 

this year said that warming in western mountains is projected to 

cause decreased snowpack, and that snow and length of snow depth 

are very likely to crease in most of North America. 

The IPCC also found that coastal communities and habitats will 

be increasingly stressed by climate change impacts. 

Global warming is the greatest challenge of our time, and if left 

unchecked it will have a negative effect in many areas of our lives 

and businesses. Outdoor recreation is perhaps one of the first and 

most obvious aspects of our lives that global warming will touch, 

but many others will follow. 

It is up to us to face this challenge squarely and act immediately 

to avert the worst effects of global warming. Our ability to continue 

to enjoy the great outdoors in the many ways we have learned to 

love and cherish it, and the many ways we enrich our lives beyond 

compare, is placed at risk by global warming. In addition, many 

businesses and millions of jobs in the recreation industry are 

threatened by global warming. 

I know that we as a Nation and as a world will rise to meet this 

challenge, and we will be better off in every way. The window is 

closing and we need to act now. The reason I wanted to have this 

particular industry before us is they are sounding the alarm. 

Once again, I want to welcome all the witnesses. I am so pleased 

to have so many of my colleagues from our side here today. I hope 

that the Republican side will come as well. In order of arrival, I 

would call on Senator Klobuchar for her opening remarks. 

STATEMENT OF HON. AMY KLOBUCHAR, U.S. SENATOR FROM 

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. All right. It is great to be here with all of 

you. Thank you for coming. 

Whether it is fishing, biking, hunting, bird watching, 

snowmobiling, skiing, outdoor sports are a big part of what Minnesota is all about. It is also a big part of our economy. Each year, 

Minnesotans spend more than $1.8 billion on outdoor-related recreation. I guess I would ask if I could pose a question to our Chairwoman. I will have to pose it. 

Chairwoman Boxer, I have a question about Minnesota sports for 

you. 

Senator BOXER. OK. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. How much money do you think we spend 

on worms every year in Minnesota? 

[Laughter.] 

Senator BOXER. I have to Google that information. 

[Laughter.] 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. It would be $50 million we spend on worms 

and bait. I think we might lead California on that one. But it is 

just an example. 

Senator BOXER. I will give you that title. 
4 

[Laughter.] 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. But it is a wonderful example of how the 

outdoors are such an important part of our economy in Minnesota. 

I can tell you that those that participate in all kinds of sports 

across our State are getting increasingly concerned about warmer 

winters and about climate change. 

There is a couple out on Leech Lake who care about this issue 

because it has taken them a month longer to get their fishhouse 

out for ice fishing. I have heard it from high school ski coaches who 

are having trouble recruiting skiers to their sport because of the 

lack of snow. I have heard it from snowmobile clubs in Detroit 

Lakes, who are upset because the time period when they can use 

their snowmobiles is shrinking. 

It is not just about winter sports. It impacts us across the board. 

There are hunters and anglers in Hibbing, MN who care about the 

issue because they have seen the changes in our wetlands and our 

wildlife. Some of the most prized fish, like brook trout in northern 

Minnesota, are coldwater fish. These fish need clear, cold, surface 

runoff water to thrive. Currently, models done by the University of 

Minnesota–Duluth predict that prize coldwater fish will disappear 

as the water temperature in Lake Superior continue to rise. At the 

moment, that lake is at record high temperatures. 

If rising temperatures and lower lake levels harm fish populations and change wildlife patterns, it is going to have serious implications for recreation in Minnesota. 

So I would end by saying that this is an issue that has finally 

moved out of the science labs and seminar rooms of our universities, and it has entered the everyday conversation of people from 

all walks of life. People from our State are hoping that this Congress will confront the challenge of rising temperatures with comprehensive and constructive action. Our State has done that. We 

passed one of the most aggressive renewable portfolio standards in 

the country for electricity, signed into law by our Republican Governor. I admire the courage of our State and California and Arizona and New Jersey and other States that are taking the lead on 

this, but States are supposed to be the laboratories of democracy. 

They are supposed to be courageous. But that doesn’t mean that 

we should have inaction by the Federal Government. 

So I want to thank you for being here today and being part of 

this important committee as we search for solutions, and we can’t 

search for long. It is time to act. 

Thank you. 

Senator BOXER. Senator, thank you so much. This is the second 

time I have heard you talk with eloquence about—— 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. About worms? 

Senator BOXER. About worms. 

[Laughter.] 

Senator BOXER. About global warming and its real impact on the 

quality of life of the people in your State. It really resonates because if you just think about what it would be like if the climate 

changed dramatically there, it just would be a very different place, 

a different place from the one you grew up in. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Thank you. I appreciate that. I am going to 

have to leave a little early for another hearing, but I think we will 
5 

have a few questions that we will submit for the record. Thank 

you. 

Senator BOXER. Thank you so much, Senator. 

Senator Sanders. 

STATEMENT OF HON. BERNARD SANDERS, U.S. SENATOR 

FROM THE STATE OF VERMONT 

Senator SANDERS. Thank you very much, Madam Chair, for holding this hearing. I think you are exactly right in saying that global 

warming is the challenge of the time. If we don’t get it right, the 

young people who are here today with us are going to see a quality 

of life in this country and around the world far inferior to what we 

enjoy today. It is incumbent upon us to address this issue. 

I am just delighted that we have so many articulate guests who 

are going to be explaining the impact of global warming in terms 

of their industries and in their regions of the country. I am especially delighted to welcome Bryant Watson, who has for many 

years now been the executive director of the Vermont Association 

of Snowmobile Travelers. In the State of Vermont, snowmobiling is 

not only a significant industry in terms of bringing much-needed 

money into our rural areas, but it is an important recreational activity for tens and tens of thousands of Vermonters. 

I was mentioning to somebody this morning that one of our 

schools in northern Vermont, the kids drive to school in their snowmobiles. They park the snowmobiles outside. It is a family-based 

activity and it is a very, very good thing for people in the State of 

Vermont and for the kind of revenue that we generate when out 

of staters come to the State. 

As Mr. Watson will tell you, we have had some very, very rough 

winters in recent years. The result of those rough winters, those 

winters without snow, have been that people in the snowmobile industry, people in our skiing industry, have lost substantial sums of 

money. People are not coming to the State of Vermont to ski, to 

snowmobile, when there is not snow, and in recent years there 

have been winters without significant amounts of snow. 

So when we talk about global warming, when we talk about 

droughts, and we talk about the loss of glaciers and permafrost, 

and forest fires, let us not forget what global warming is meaning 

not just in the future, but today for the income and the way of life 

of millions and millions of Americans who enjoy wintertime activities. 

So I just want to thank you, Madam Chair, for holding this important hearing, and welcoming our guests here. I look forward to 

hearing what they have to say. 

Senator BOXER. Thank you, Senator Sanders. 

Senator Lautenberg. 

STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, U.S. SENATOR 

FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY 

Senator LAUTENBERG. Thank you, Madam Chairman, for holding 

today’s hearing. We are about 24 hours from a holiday weekend. 

The climate will make a huge difference in how people enjoy themselves and what kind of recreation they have. I am a tree hugger 
6 

from way back. As a matter of fact, I skied in Vermont, I don’t 

want to say before Senator Sanders was born, but anyway—— 

[Laughter.] 

Senator LAUTENBERG. I don’t know if it was that long ago, but 

many years in Colorado, and I have ski-competitive kids in a serious way, and grandchildren who are now expert skiers. I belong to 

the Ski Association, Mr. Berry. If you look back, I started skiing 

in 1946, when I got out of the Army. One of the most healthful 

things that I did was to go skiing and take my kids skiing, and 

learn and teach them that the outdoors is the best gymnasium you 

could find. 

We do go fishing, and sometimes we even catch something, but 

more often than not the fish gets a chance to swim again. It means 

so much. When we talk about a legacy that we would like to leave 

our children and our grandchildren and future generations, what 

could be better than a balanced climate structure. 

Right now, we are still facing doubters who sit—and I am sorry 

that they are absent because I don’t like to talk about them when 

they are not here; I like to talk about them when they are here— 

but the fact of the matter is there is still doubt. They are throwing 

up challenges to the fact that there is climate change. 

Well, I know that in New Jersey, for instance, people descend on 

the shore and they go to bird watch—thousands and thousands of 

people will go. We have seen declines in species, declines in numbers of birds on the flyways. People like to hunt and fish. These 

activities are part of the lives of New Jerseyans, but unless we act 

to end global warming, the future of these destinations is in jeopardy. 

Our country’s average temperature was 2.2 degrees warmer last 

year than the average temperature throughout the 20th century, 

according to NOAA. These rising temperatures, as I note, cause a 

decrease in the patterns of flying that birds take. We have a huge 

bird population, but a drop in the State’s overall tourism revenue 

is quickly noted, and unfortunately in serious decline. 

One estimate shows that bird watching, hunting and fishing 

bring $4.1 billion every year into New Jersey alone. Not only are 

we seeing these changes in the spring and summer, but climate 

changes pose a significant threat to our winter tourism. Our ski 

mountains are not very high. The top is in the hundreds of feet. 

I think we have one place that is skyscraping high that is 1,200 

feet. From the top, you can see the bottom. But we have these modest height mountains, but people love to be out there. It causes 

enormous changes in the economy of these communities. 

Warmer temperatures in the winter, more rain, less snow, more 

extreme events, avalanches and landslides, which you see in the 

far western States. Ski areas in New Jersey, they are low altitudes, 

will be some of the first to experience rain instead of snow, and the 

change in winter weather forces tourists to stay away. It costs 

workers their jobs and forces ski areas to shut down. 

Global warming is causing similar problems across the country. 

In Colorado, recent climate models show that popular ski resorts 

such as Aspen and Vail could lose more than 40 percent of their 

snowpack in the coming century. In Montana, glaciers in Glacier 
7 

National Park are melting. The park’s largest glaciers are about 

one third of the size they were 200 years ago, one third of the size. 

When it comes to impacts of global warming, this committee has 

heard from scientists. We have heard from businesses. We have 

heard from our cities and States. We are very appreciative of the 

leadership that our Chairman has provided. She is there challenging whatever sits as a condition that needs to be changed, that 

needs to be examined, and we do it vigorously. I am grateful to 

Senator Boxer for doing these things, and reminding us that there 

is more than just the budgets and things of that nature. We cannot 

forget nature and the human contact with nature. 

Six years ago, I went down to the South Pole. I have been up to 

the Arctic to see what was happening with the ice melt there. I met 

with the National Science Foundation people. It was painful, because you could hear the ice plates shifting, and it sounded like 

groaning. When you see what it means for the penguin growth to 

be sustained and present, and recognize that they have to go further and further to find food to bring back to their young. The ice 

melt—we have seen these floes the size of States. Rhode Island, 

unfortunately, has been picked out as a place that resembles in 

size one of the ice floes that have seen. 

So Madam Chairman, we thank you and we are all determined, 

as you are, to continue our fight against the loss of these precious 

assets that this country has. 

Senator BOXER. Thank you so much, Senator. 

Senator Whitehouse. 

STATEMENT OF HON. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, U.S. SENATOR 

FROM THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND 

Senator WHITEHOUSE. Thank you, Madam Chair. 

I just want to remark on something that Senator Lautenberg 

said, which I think is so important. Whether you are ice fishing in 

Minnesota, with worms, or snowmobiling in Vermont or bird 

watching in New Jersey, or surfing in California, or fishing in Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, these opportunities for families to 

have experiences in the outdoors are the jewels, really, of family 

memory. Sometimes these are things that grandchildren do with 

their grandparents. When they grow up, they pass it on to their 

grandchildren themselves. It is the favorite fishing spot. It is the 

favorite skiing spot. 

So there is a lot at stake here that comes in under the science. 

I think the point that Senator Lautenberg made along those lines 

is something we really have to bear in mind. I have the good fortune to be married to a marine biologist, a scientist, so I spend a 

lot of time in the scientific community. One of the things that I noticed, or learned early, is how small a difference can make how big 

a difference. 

Years ago, the guy who does most of the work on Narragansett 

Bay on bay temperatures and so forth, we were sitting with him 

and talking about various things. He said that in the last I think 

it was 30 years, the temperature of Narragansett Bay has gone up 

4 degrees. Well, I swim in all kinds of weather in the ocean. Four 

degrees doesn’t seem to make a very big difference. So I challenge 

him. I said, well, 4 degrees isn’t much; I can’t really tell the dif-
8 

ference between 62 degrees and 66 degrees when I am swimming; 

it is just cold. 

He said, no, you don’t understand. From an ecological point of 

view, that is a full ecosystem shift. 

So things that might not seem to us to be so significant immediately, can have enormous consequences in the ecosystem that 

supports these activities. 

Madam Chair, you have done a wonderful job in leading this 

committee, and I am very proud to be with you, and keep slugging 

away. 

Thank you. 

Senator BOXER. Thank you, Senator. Once again, I think you put 

it into human terms because when we talk about recreation in 

America, we are talking about family. We are talking about children. We are talking about joy. We are talking about health. We 

are talking about education, too. You don’t learn everything in the 

classroom, as you well know. 

So I think this is why we wanted to have this panel, and we are 

going to get to it. Senator Sanders, I was also saying we are talking about millions of good jobs that are at stake here. 

The one thing I wanted to announce is that Senator Isakson and 

I are leading a bipartisan codel to Greenland in July. We are going 

to examine the ice condition there, and many colleagues already 

have agreed to go on this trip. We are inviting anyone in the Senate who is interested in it. I mention that because we are just 

going to keep doing our work, because when people say nothing is 

happening, nothing is wrong, we are going to go where the facts 

show us exactly what is happening, and that is one place, Greenland, where we are going to pick up some facts. 

So now we are going to get started with Dr. Scott. It was a long 

time since I mentioned what everyone does on the panel, so I will 

reiterate: Canada research chair, Global Change and Tourism Department of Geography, University of Waterloo. 

STATEMENT OF DANIEL SCOTT, CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR, 

GLOBAL CHANGE AND TOURISM, DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO 

Mr. SCOTT. Thank you, Senators. First of all, let me apologize for 

the state of my voice. I have two daughters who are under the age 

of 4, and it seems impossible to stay healthy these days. So hopefully my voice will get through this. 

Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today on this 

hearing on the implications of global warming in the recreation sector. It is an issue that I have personally worked on for about 10 

years now. It is in my capacity, again, as a Canada research chair, 

but also as the chair of the World Meteorological Organization. 

They have an expert team on tourism and climate. I am the chair 

of that, so it is also in that capacity that I speak to you today. 

In my written testimony, I tried to summarize for you the scientific literature on this issue that pertains specifically to the 

United States, to give you a reference for that. It is based on that 

scientific literature that I make my summary remarks to you this 

morning. 
9 

First of all, climate change is anticipated to have far-reaching 

consequences for the recreation sector. This is because both the 

supply and demand within the recreation sector are heavily influenced by weather and climate today. The impacts will be particularly significant if high-emission scenarios are realized in the coming decades. 

Importantly, to emphasize, climate change represents both a risk 

and an opportunity for this sector. The winners and losers, if you 

will, will vary by market segment. They will also vary by geographic region. We are only in the early stages of trying to sort out 

exactly who those winners and losers will be, and which areas, 

which businesses will need the most assistance in the future. 

Particularly at risk in this sector by mid-century are the winter 

recreation industries of skiing and snowmobiling, that I have done 

a lot of work on myself. There are known vulnerabilities to exist, 

and some of them have been identified already, but throughout the 

Southeast, the Northeast, the Midwest, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Northwest ski areas, as well as California. 

The economic losses in these industries are likely to be in the 

order of billions of dollars. The cultural loss of the recreation activities that define some of these regions, however, are very difficult 

to put a monetary value on. 

The Senators have identified several other key vulnerabilities, 

areas where the key recreation or resources for recreation will be 

vulnerable and threatened. Some examples already given were the 

coldwater fishery, particularly at its southern margins, but also 

throughout the Great Lakes and Midwest States; specific places 

like Glacier National Park, where its very namesake and one of its 

principal attractions is likely to be lost; and areas such as California, Las Vegas and other areas where we have limited water resources that may actually preclude some of the climate adaptations 

that we are stressing such as snow-making and golf course irrigation, as two examples. 

Most of the potential opportunities associated with global warming in this sector will accrue to the northern States, largely in the 

form of extended summer recreation seasons from a climate perspective. Consequently, there is the potential for a net northward 

shift in recreation spending, as those in northern States spend 

their recreation dollars closer to home, taking advantage of some 

of those extended summer recreation seasons, and also have less 

demand for golf and beach trips further south during the winter 

months. 

Because climate is changing and we are committed to some 

amount of further warming regardless of how successful we are on 

mitigation, adaptation will be necessary to minimize damages and 

capitalize on any opportunities that may present themselves. This 

is already happening at the individual business and community 

level in an ad hoc manner. A few example are a few years ago, I 

was contacted by a California investment company looking to buy 

a Colorado ski resort, and they wanted advice in a climate change 

context. I personally know of banks both in Europe and here in 

North America who are already adapting their lending practices to 

ski areas. 
10 

Some communities, as was identified, Aspen and recreational organizations as one example, the Wildlife Society, are also beginning 

to do their own research to figure out what their options are in 

terms of adapting to a warmer world. 

There is tremendous adaptive capacity in the recreation sector. 

However, we need to develop much better information to provide 

businesses and communities with as much lead time as possible to 

adapt to climate change in an economically and environmentally 

sustainable manner. This information, in my opinion, is needed 

sooner, rather than later, because although we generally think of 

climate change impacts as far out into the future, a number of the 

impacts that I highlighted for you in my written testimony will actually take place in my working career, and at most within my lifetime. 

So it is not just future generations that are going to have to cope 

with climate change, but indeed some of the generation that you 

see sitting before you today. 

With that, I thank you for your time. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Scott follows:] 

STATEMENT OF DANIEL SCOTT, CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR, GLOBAL CHANGE AND

TOURISM, DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO

INTRODUCTION

In its Fourth Assessment Report, the United Nations Inter-governmental Panel 

on Climate Change (2007) indicated that some degree of climate change was inevitable in the 21st century regardless of the success of international efforts to reduce 

greenhouse gas emissions. As a consequence, societies around the world will need 

to adapt to some magnitude of climate change in the decades ahead, adjusting 

human systems in order to moderate potential damages or realize new opportunities. Climate change was recognized by the United States National Research Council 

(on behalf of the National Science Foundation) as one of eight ‘‘grand challenges’’ 

in the environmental sciences (Committee on Grand Challenges in Environmental 

Sciences, 2001). Of particular importance, the Council noted, is the need for improved assessment capabilities with regards to the impacts of climate change on 

human and natural systems. 

One economic sector in which climate change is anticipated to have considerable 

consequences is that of outdoor recreation, because it is highly influenced by climate. Climate defines the length and quality of multi-billion dollar outdoor recreation seasons, such as skiing, snowmobiling, golf, boating, and beach use, which 

subsequently influence sales of related sporting equipment and also tourism related 

spending. Climate also affects a wide range of environmental resources that are critical to the recreation sector, such as snow conditions, wildlife productivity, and 

water levels, and affects various facets of recreation operations (e.g., snowmaking 

or irrigation needs, open fire or swimming bans). Despite the importance of weather 

and climate to outdoor recreation, the sensitivity of individual recreation industries 

to climate variability the complexities of the interactions between climate change 

and recreation sector have not been adequately assessed to date. 

It is beyond the scope of this testimony to provide a comprehensive assessment 

of the implications of climate change for the recreation sector of the United States, 

instead illustrative examples of the implications of projected changes in climate are 

provided for a variety of participation land, water and snow-based outdoor recreation activities, including hunting, fishing, park visitation, golf, boating, beach use, 

skiing, and snowmobiling. 

OUTDOOR RECREATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Demand for outdoor activities in the United States substantial and varied geographically. According to the most recent National Survey on Recreation and the 

Environment (NSRE, U.S. Forest Service, 2000), 97.5 percent of Americans aged 16 

and over participate in some form of outdoor recreation at least once per annum. 

When Americans participate in outdoor recreation, they spend money and create 

jobs while at the same time improving their physical and mental health. A recent 
11 

assessment of the ‘Active Outdoor Recreation Economy’ estimated that this sector 

has an annual economic contribution of $730 billion and supports over 6.5 million 

jobs (Southwick Associates 2006). This suggests that if substantive climate change 

impacts (positive or negative) occur in this sector, the economic implications are not 

likely to be trivial. 

IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION IN THE UNITED STATES: A REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

As in the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment (U.S. Forest Service, 2000), this discussion is organized into three sections, covering land-based, 

water-based, and snow and ice-based, recreation activities. Where possible, existing 

empirical analyses of the potential impacts of climate change on specific recreation 

activities are summarized; where no such investigations are available, broad-level 

implications are conjectured. As indicated, climate change would have both direct 

and indirect impacts on recreation activities—direct, through changes in climatic 

conditions such as temperature and precipitation, and indirect via the impacts of 

these climatic changes on the natural resources base. Both types of impacts are considered in the discussion below. 

Land Based Activities 

Land based activities constitute the largest category of outdoor recreation participation (U.S. Forest Service, 2000), and, in many cases, the positive experience of 

such activities is contingent upon one or more elements of the landscape (flora, 

fauna, and/or natural scenery) in which they occur. Despite the large numbers of 

Americans engaging in such activities, the relatively narrow range of atmospheric 

conditions in which they ideally occur, and the potential impacts of projected climate 

change on both atmospheric and environmental conditions, there appears to have 

been limited research into the likely impacts of climate change on patterns of participation. Studies addressing the potential implications of climate change for camping, hunting, viewing wildlife and natural scenery, and golf, are summarized below. 

Camping 

According to the National Sporting Goods Association (2005), over 55.3 million 

Americans aged seven or older went camping once or more in 2004, making this the 

second most popular of the sporting activities this agency monitors. While styles of 

camping may vary considerably, from large recreational vehicles with all modern 

conveniences, to back-country and wilderness locations with no facilities provided, 

most camping trips are impacted by weather conditions to a lesser or greater extent. 

Loomis and Crespi (1999) and Mendelsohn and Markowski (1999) concurred that at 

the national-level increases in temperature (from 1.5 °C to 5 °C) and precipitation 

(from 0 percent to 15 percent) would have a negative impact on the numbers of people participating in, and the welfare value generated by, camping. Key limitations 

of both of these studies are that they fail to take into consideration regional variations in seasonal activity patterns or climate change scenarios and thus provide no 

information on regions that may see reduced or increased camping activity. Illustrative of the regionally specific impacts on camping seasons are studies in southern 

Canada that are latitudinal (and climatological) equivalents to northern states in 

New England or the Midwest, which project an extension of the camping season in 

the spring and fall shoulder seasons and increases in camping related revenues (23 

percent to 36 percent by the 2050s—Wall et al. 1986). 

Hunting 

According to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated 

Recreation (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2002), over 13 million Americans aged 

16 or older spent over 228 million days and nearly $22 billion on hunting-related 

activities in 2001. The Wildlife Society (2004) has examined the potential impacts 

of climate change for wildlife in North America and concluded that wildlife managers, including those who manage wildlife populations for recreational hunting, 

cannot ignore the important implications. 

According to Mendelsohn and Markowski (1999), climate change (increases in 

temperature from 1.5 °C to 5 °C and in precipitation from 0 percent to 15 percent) 

is unlikely to have any significant impact on the welfare value generated by hunting 

activity in the U.S. over the next 50 years. While the total value of hunting within 

in the U.S. may indeed remain relatively unchanged under warmer, wetter conditions, considerable geographic shifts in hunting activity should be anticipated as a 

result of changes in the geographic distribution and relative abundance of species. 

Vegetation modeling studies on the impacts of climate change on terrestrial vegetation have consistently projected major shifts in vegetation types over much of the 
12 

continent (Neilson, 1998; Cramer et al., 2001), with interconnected impacts on wildlife habitat. Thomas et al. (2004, p. 147) stated that, ‘‘Despite the uncertainties. . .the overall conclusions. . .establish that anthropogenic climate warming at 

least ranks alongside other recognized threats to global biodiversity [and] contrary 

to previous projections, it is likely to be the greatest threat in many if not most regions.’’ Indeed, a series of meta-analyses (Parmesan and Yohe, 2003; Root et al., 

2003) have compiled evidence that physical and biological systems are already responding to the changing climate of the twentieth century. 

Loomis and Crespi’s (1999) analysis of the potential impact on waterfowl hunting 

suggested there would be virtually no change in hunter days in the U.S., however 

this analysis only considered the implications of climate change for the future availability of wetlands on the east coast of the U.S., while implications for the single 

most important waterfowl habitat region in North America, the prairie pothole region, were overlooked. The prairie pothole region is one of the most productive waterfowl regions in the world and although it only represents an estimated 10 percent 

of waterfowl breeding habitat in North America, the region produces 50–80 percent 

of the continents ducks annually (Batt, Anderson, Anderson, & Caswell, 1989). 

Some anticipated ecological impacts of climate change in this region include: fewer 

wetlands on average; shorter flooding duration for wetlands; greater annual variability in surface water; changes in agriculture and waterfowl food supply; and 

changes to water depth, salinity, temperature, plants, and aquatic food webs. A 

study by LeBlanc et al. (1991) estimated that the impacts of climate change would 

bring about a decline of 22 percent in duck productivity in North Dakota and concluded that this result could be approximated to the entire prairie pothole and parkland region of the U.S. and Canada. Had Loomis and Crespi (1999) used this region 

as the basis for their study, the outcome would have been significantly different. 

Viewing wildlife and natural scenery 

The viewing of wildlife and natural scenery is a broad category that encompasses 

a variety of activities in a variety of settings. In 2001, over 66 million Americans 

aged 16 or older spent over $38 billion on wildlife watching activities (U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, 2002). Eagles et al. (2000) estimated that over 2.6 billion visitor 

days were spent in national-state parks and protected areas in the U.S. and Canada 

in 1996. 

An ongoing study of the potential implications of climate change for national park 

visits illustrates that there are likely to be very different regional impacts (Hyslop 

and Scott 2007). Recreation activities in many of the parks in the northern U.S. are 

constrained by winter conditions, and with a lengthened and improved warm-weather recreation season, visitation to national-state parks in these regions are expected 

to increase. For example, Acadia national park was projected to have increased visitation of between 4–6 percent in the 2020s and 7–18 percent in the 2080s and Cuyahoga Valley increases of 3–8 percent in the 2020s and 6–22 percent in the 2080s. 

Other national parks projected to experience potentially large increases in visitation 

were Rocky Mountain, Yosemite, and Olympic. Conversely, some national parks in 

southern and desert states were projected to have reduced visitation, including Everglades, Mesa Verde, and Saguaro. Notable, the negative impact on visitation levels in these parks was not as great as the increase in other more northerly parks. 

Increased visitation would have benefits for park revenues and the economies of 

nearby communities, but could exacerbate visitor-related ecological pressures in 

some parks. The implications of a changed climate for park visitation in more southern regions of the U.S. remain uncertain however. 

Although the direct impacts of a changed climate alone may increase visitation 

to some parks, the environmental changes resulting from alterations in climate may 

reduce the attractiveness of the landscape to the extent that visitation may be adversely impacted. Two studies have assessed the potential impacts of climate-induced environmental change in the Rocky Mountain region. Richardson and Loomis 

(2005) asked visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park how their visitation patterns 

(number and length of stays) might change under a series of hypothetical environmental change scenarios for the 2020s. Scott et al. (2007) used a similar approach 

in Glacier-Waterton Lakes International Peace Park, where they asked tourists to 

consider three hypothetical environmental change scenarios (for the 2020s, 2050s 

and 2080s) and indicate whether they would still visit the park and, if so, more or 

less frequently. 

Richardson and Loomis (2005) found that the majority of respondents indicated 

that they would not change their visitation patterns to Rocky Mountain National 

Park under the three scenarios provided. The changes in visitation behavior resulted in a 10 percent to 14 percent increase in annual visitation under the first 

two scenarios, while the ‘extreme heat’ scenario caused a 9 percent decline in visita-
13 

tion. The findings of Scott et al. (2007) in Glacier-Waterton International Peace 

Park for the 2020s were largely consistent with those of Richardson and Loomis 

(2005). Under the 2080s scenario, however, 19 percent of respondents reported that 

they would no longer visit the park and, of the 81 percent who would still visit, 37 

percent stated they would do so less often. The loss of glaciers in the park was the 

most important reason cited for not intending to visit the park in the future. 

Landscape change in parks is likely to be personally meaningful to many Americans and therefore presents an educational opportunity via interpretive programs. 

For example, while the loss of Glacier National Park’s namesake would be a significant heritage loss, it could serve an important educational role to inform visitors 

about climate change. 

Bird watching has undergone tremendous growth over the past 30 years in the 

U.S. Participation in birding among Americans grew 232 percent between 1983 and 

2001 (Cordell and Herbert 2002) and today there are over 70 million bird watchers 

in the United States. Of the 51 recreational activities currently tracked through the 

U.S. National Survey on Recreation and the Environment, birding represents the 

15th most popular activity (U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service 2001). Avitourism is a significant and growing tourism market. In 1996, over 

U.S. $6 billion was spent on trips associated with birding in the United States 

(American Birding Association 2002). The number of communities organizing 

birding festivals has increased from 12 in 1993 to over 200 in 2002 (Cordell and 

Herbert 2002) and birding travel routes are being established to attract avitourism. 

Bird species can be affected by climatic changes in a number of ways, including 

changes in their habitat range, availability of food sources at certain times of the 

year, the timing and path of migrations, and nesting behaviour. Research suggests 

that climatic changes during the 20th century have already had a discernable impact on bird populations in North America (Price and Glick 2002) and Europe 

(Lemoine and Bohning-Gaese 2002). Climate change in the 21st century is projected 

to further impact the distribution and diversity of bird populations in North America. Price and Root (2001) argue that the number of neotropical migrant species 

present in the U.S. would decline under projected climate change, with the largest 

species losses in the Eastern Midwest (¥30 percent), Great Lakes (¥29 percent), 

Mid-Atlantic (¥23 percent), and Southeast (¥22 percent) regions. With an estimated one in every three of North American songbirds born in Canada’s boreal forest Blancher 2002), the projected decline and retreat of the southern boreal forest 

due to climate change (Hogg and Hurdle 1995, Scott et al. 2002) has important implications for songbird populations. The degradation or loss of critical habitats (particularly key wetlands) could have a significant impact on birding destinations. The 

increased rarity of some species could however generate increased tourism, as 

birders travel further in search of these species. 

Climate change impacts on the vegetation and hydrology of the New England and 

Midwest states could also impact recreation associated with fall foliage (leaf colour 

touring) that currently a highly popular and economically valuable activity in these 

regions. Fall colour sightseeing draws visitors from across the U.S. (Andrews 1999) 

and would be negatively affected by the projected decline in maple trees (which provide the bright red colour essential to spectacular fall landscapes) and a greater 

abundance of less colourful tree species. Vegetation modelling has projected the 

maple- beech-birch forest type that currently dominates the region would be replaced by the oak-hickory forest type under climate change conditions (Iverson and 

Prasad 1998). How people respond to changes in forest landscapes remains an important uncertainty in determining the vulnerability of fall tourism in this region 

(U.S. National Assessment-NE regional report 2000). 

Golf 

The golf industry is one of the largest recreation sectors in U.S. and one that is 

highly influenced by weather and climate. There are approximately 20,000 golf 

courses (World Golf Foundation, 2001) and according to the U.S. Census Bureau 

(2004), 27.6 million golfers (persons aged 12 or older who played one round or more) 

played 552 million rounds of golf in 2001. In 2000, golf accounted for $62 billion 

worth of goods and services in the U.S. and supported over 295,000 paid employees, 

of which $20.5 billion in revenues were generated directly at golf facilities, mainly 

through green fees (World Golf Foundation, 2002). By comparison, the golf sector 

is estimated to approximate the economic size of the motion picture industry in the 

United States ($57.8 billion) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001). 

Golf industry reports and professional journal articles, the golf industries in the 

United States are very aware of the importance of weather and climate to their 

business. According to the 2001 Golf 20/20 Industry Report, the single most important factor impacting rounds played [both positively and negatively each year] con-
14 

tinues to be weather (World Golf Foundation, 2001). In a survey of 2,426 golf 

courses in the United States, 52 percent identified climate variability as the leading 

reason for lower than expected rounds played in 2000 and 2001, while 35 percent 

cited climatic variability as the primary reason for higher than expected rounds 

played (World Golf Foundation, 2004). By comparison, less than 10 percent of golf 

courses participating in the same survey identified the economy or course renovations in positively or negatively influencing rounds played. Another analysis of golf 

participation (1,849 golf courses) in the United States also identified variations in 

weather as the primary reason for positively (35 percent) and negatively (62 percent) affecting annual rounds played in 2003 over 2002 (National Golf Foundation, 

2004). 

It is clear that the North American golf industry attributes a considerable share 

of its economic success to weather and climate, yet surprisingly very few studies 

have attempted to assess the empirical relationship between weather and climate 

and the golf sector. The lack of research examining the impact of weather and climate on the golf industry was acknowledged by the World Golf Foundation (2001) 

in its 2001 20/20 Golf Industry Report. The report recommended that more analysis 

of rounds played and weather [and climate] was needed. The need for research into 

the potential impacts of climate change on the golf sector has also been acknowledged by the European golf industry. Drawing on the input of over 250 stakeholders, including course mangers, union leaders and professional organizations, the 

Golf Course Advisory Panel at the Royal and Ancient Golf Course of St. Andrews 

(Scotland) identified climate change as one of six strategic issues facing the golf industry over the next 20 years (Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, 2000). 

Loomis and Crespi (1999) attempted to project golf participation in the United 

States under climate change scenario. Although they do not describe how rounds 

played were converted into golf days, they projected that under the arbitrary climate 

change scenario they used (∂2. °C/4.5 °F; ∂7 percent precipitation), the U.S. golf 

industry would benefit from a 14 percent increase in golf days in the 2050s. The 

methodology used in this study was limited in that a single climate change scenario 

was applied to the entire country and as such it did not take into account climate 

change uncertainty by examining a range of future climates and ignored the regional differences of projected climate change in the U.S. More importantly, the 

study did not distinguish local and state-level golf from out-of-state tourism-based 

participation (e.g., golf tourism to states like Florida and Arizona from regions 

where golf courses are closed in winter). The model therefore projected increased 

participation in northern states as temperature increased, but did not subtract the 

diminished flow of golf tourists to states that are currently golf destinations in the 

winter months. 

Illustrative of the regionally specific impacts on golfing are studies in southern 

Canada that are latitudinal (and climatological) equivalent to northern New England or Midwest states. Scott and Jones (2005) examined the influence of weather 

conditions and climate change on the season length and the number of rounds 

played in southern Ontario (Canada). The model projected that as early as the 

2020s the average golf season could be one to seven weeks longer and with much 

improved shoulder seasons annual rounds played could increase 6 percent to 14 percent. The model results for the 2050s projected an increase in rounds played of 8 

percent to 24 percent. The increase in rounds played occurs largely because of more 

conducive weather conditions that extend the golf season up to 16 weeks in the 

2080s. Similar magnitude of impacts would be anticipated in Michigan and upstate 

New York and other nearby states. 

To assess the full potential impact of climate change on the golf industry the implications for a full range of golf course operations in regions across the U.S. is 

needed. A warmer climate would lead to greater demand for turf grass irrigation 

in all regions. With increased competition for water in the future, climate change 

is anticipated to exacerbate the challenge of water supply for the industry. This is 

particularly the case in some of the top golf destinations in the U.S. that are projected to have acute water supply challenges in the coming decades even if climate 

change does not occur. Another important issue for golf operations is the potential 

impact of climate change on grass maintenance issues, such as turf grass selection, 

turf diseases and insect pests. Pests that currently have only one life cycle in northern states could adapt to new climate regimes and have two life cycles. Perhaps 

more importantly, there is the potential for turf grass diseases and pests currently 

limited to more southerly latitudes to expand into northern states and require new 

management interventions in the future. Future analysis of these operational issues 

is essential to provide insight into the potential ability of golf courses to take advantage of the opportunities projected climate change would bring. 
15 

Water Based Activities 

Boating 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2004), in 2001 Americans owned over 17 

million recreational boats and made over $28.5 billion of retail expenditures on this 

activity. In the same year, over 4,000 U.S. marinas supported close to 25,000 employees and reported revenues in excess of $3 billion. Nearly one-third of all registered boaters in the U.S. reside in one of the eight Great Lakes states and over 

1,800 marinas exist in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan alone (Lindeberg and 

Albercook, 2000; Sousounis and Albercook, 2000). The potential implications of climate change for boating in the Great Lakes region are, therefore, of special importance from both an economic and a social perspective. 

Nevertheless, despite the size of the boating industry and the number of participants involved, the impacts of climate change on boating appear not to have been 

addressed empirically other than in one study conducted on a national-level dataset 

from 1990 (Mendelsohn & Markowski, 1999). According to the analyses conducted 

by these authors, climate change is likely to have a positive impact on boating activity, with increases in value ranging from $1.1 billion (for a 1.5 °C increase in temperature, and increases in precipitation from 0 to 15 percent) to $13.1 billion (for 

a 5 °C increase in temperature, and increases in precipitation from 0 to 15 percent). 

However, these figures do not include consideration of the likely negative impacts 

of declining water levels on the Great Lakes and reservoir lakes in the western U.S. 

and thus, may overestimate this positive impact at the regional and local level. For 

example, as a result of recent drought in western states, the Colorado River Outfitters Association experienced a 40 percent decline in business, with an estimated impact of $50 million (Associated Press 2002) and water levels in the Lake Mead, the 

largest western U.S. reservoir with 10 million visitors annually, dropped nearly 30- 

meter since 1999. Each six-metre reduction in water level costs $6 million for adapting infrastructure (Allen et al. 2003). 

Fishing 

According to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated 

Recreation (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2002), over 34 million Americans aged 

16 or older spent over 557 million days and $36 billion on fishing-related activities 

in 2001. The majority of anglers (83 percent) fished in freshwater (including the 

Great Lakes), compared to 27 percent in saltwater. The American Sportfishing Association (2001) estimates the value of freshwater sport fishing and the associated 

tourism market to exceed U.S. $11 billion in North America. 

A limited number of studies that have investigated the potential impacts of climate change on recreational fishing in North America. Wall (1998) provided an 

overview of the implications of global climate change for tourism and recreation in 

wetland areas, including those for fishing. For marine wetlands, he listed inundation, erosion and saltwater intrusion as three key negative impacts of rising sea levels, whereas for inland wetlands, declining water levels and loss of wetland species 

were noted. Such changes have important implications for water supply and equality, as well as the distributions of vegetation, wildlife (and, hence, wildlife viewing 

and hunting), and fish (and fishing). Wall identified the most threatened coastal and 

inland wetland areas as the coastal wetlands of Louisiana, and the Great Lakes, respectively. 

A number of cold-water fish species are particularly sought by anglers. Studies 

of the potential impact of changes in water temperatures for selected cold-water species have projected negative impacts throughout the United States, including the 

lower Great Lakes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1995) quantified the 

potential economic impact of the projected losses of 50 percent to ¥100 percent loss 

in cold-water fish habitat in the Great Lakes and New England states. Their analyses suggested annual economic damages to the U.S. sportfishing industry of $320 

million by the 2050s. This study also found that when alternative modelling assumptions were used, the estimated damages increased substantially, suggesting 

the need for further research to narrow the range of uncertainty. 

A study of the impact of climate change on the recreational trout fishery in the 

southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina found that the decrease in thermal habitat for trout (82 percent of streams would no longer support brook trout) 

would result in an annual economic loss of $61–584 million (1995 dollars) (Ahn et 

al. 2000). Similar research on the thermal habitat for salmonid species in the Rocky 

Mountain region of the United States found that the projected 4 °C summer warming in the region would reduce habitat area by an estimated 62 percent (Keleher 

and Rahel 1996). In contrast, smallmouth bass, a popular warm-water sport fish 

species, was projected by Casselman (2002) to increase substantially in the eastern 
16 

Lake Ontario area (a 1 °C warming = 2.5 times increase in abundance, 2 °C warming = 6 times increase). 

The cumulative impact and regional vulnerability of the North American 

sportfishing industry to climate change has not been completed, nor has there been 

a rigorous analysis of the potential adaptation strategies (e.g., lake stocking strategies, angler choice of species). 

Beach Recreation 

Coastal zones are among the most highly valued recreational areas and are primary resources for the economy of communities that exploit the sea, sun and sand 

for recreation. Climate change has important implications for coastal areas both 

through the redistribution of climate resources for beach use and the possible inundation of recreation beaches by sea level rise. An early study of beach nourishment 

as an adaptation strategy to preserve major recreational beaches throughout the 

United States estimated the cost at $14.5 billion for a 50cm sea level rise and $26.7 

billion for a 1 metre sea level rise (Smith and Tirpak 1990). A regional study in 

Florida by the U.S. EPA (1999) reported that a 60cm sea level rise would erode 

beaches in parts of south Florida 30 to 60 metres unless beach nourishment efforts 

were expanded. The cumulative cost of sand replenishment to protect Florida’s coast 

from a 50cm rise in sea level by 2100 is estimated at $1.7 to $8.8 billion (EPA 2003). 

Diving 

The reefs of the Florida Keys support a large diving and fishing industry. These 

activities generated an estimated $4.4 billion in revenues in a four-county area of 

south Florida (Johns et al. 2001). Like reef systems around the world, the reefs 

across this region have been under considerable human-induced stress (overfishing, 

pollution). Coral reefs in parts of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico have suffered 

an 80 percent decline in cover over the past 30 years (Gardner et al. 2003). Recent 

coral bleaching events caused by high water temperatures and scenarios for future 

water temperatures in the region project an imperiled future for coral reefs and related recreational diving in the region. 

Snow and Ice Based Activities 

Skiing 

Snow-based recreation in the United States, encompassing downhill (alpine) skiing and snowboarding, cross-country (nordic) skiing, and snowshoeing, was recently 

estimated to contribute an estimated $66 billion to the U.S. economy and support 

approximately 556,000 jobs (Southwick Associates 2006). Just over 8 percent of the 

U.S. population (15.5 million people) participate in these forms of snow-based recreation. 

The ski industry has been repeatedly identified as being particularly vulnerable 

to climate change and studies on the ski industry in the U.S. (Lipski and McBoyle 

1991; Hayhoe et al. 2004; Casola et al. 2005, Reuer 2006) have each projected negative impacts, though to varying degrees and over different time horizons. While not 

all ski industry executives share his view, Patrick O’Donnell, the Chief Executive 

Officer of Aspen Skiing Company, recently referred to climate change as ‘‘the most 

pressing issue facing the ski industry today’’ (Erickson 2005). 

Considering only changes in natural snow conditions, the ski season in the Sierra 

Nevada of California was projected to 3–6 weeks (2050s) and 7–15 weeks (2080s) 

(Hayhoe et al. 2004). 

Reuer (2006) modelled potential changes in snow pack in Rocky Mountain States 

in the latter decades of this century, specifically the depth of snow on April 1, and 

projected reductions ranging from 26 percent in Teton County (Wyoming) to over 80 

percent in Salt Lake County (Utah), San Miguel County (Colorado) and Taos County 

(New Mexico). It is not clear how such changes in the spring snow pack would translate into changes in the ski season length, so statements related to this study that 

the ’ski industry in the Rockies could be shut down by 2050’ must be considered 

speculation at this time. Furthermore, these U.S. studies have a very critical limitation, in that the widespread climate adaptation of snowmaking has not been accounted for. Consequently, these studies of the impact of climate change on ski operations have likely overestimated future damages. 

Studies by Scott et al. (2003, 2006, 2007a, 2007b) were the first to couple a 

snowmaking module using climatic thresholds and operational decision rules derived from interviews with ski area managers into a physical snow model.. Their 

studies found that the incorporation of snowmaking substantially lowered the vulnerability of ski areas in eastern North America through the middle of the 21st century. In a recently completed study of 14 clusters of ski areas in the U.S. Northeast 

(Scott et al. 2007), even with the assumption of advanced snowmaking systems in 
17 

place, the climate change scenarios consistently projected a trend toward shorter ski 

seasons. Under the lower emission scenario for 2010–2039, only three study areas were 

projected to lose less than 10 percent of the ski season, while 10 study areas lost 

10–17 percent and only the Connecticut location lost more than 20 percent. In 2040– 

2069, ski season losses were not substantially higher, with only the Connecticut location projected to lose greater than 25 percent of its ski season. The level of climate 

change impact increased in the 2080s where half of the study areas were projected 

to lose 25 percent or more of their ski season. The higher emission scenario had a 

much greater impact on the length of ski seasons in the region, especially in 2040– 

2069 and beyond. In 2040–2069, eight of the study areas were projected to lose 25 

percent or more of their ski season. By 2070–2099 all 14 of the study areas had lost 

at least 25 percent of the ski season and half of the study areas lost 45 percent or 

more. In order to limit ski season losses to the levels described above, snowmaking requirements were projected to increase throughout the Northeast. Under the lower 

emission scenario for 2010–2039, snowmaking requirements would increase by at 

least 25 percent at half of the study areas. In 2070–2099, climate change had distinctly different impacts on snowmaking requirements. Five of the study areas were 

projected to require at least 50 percent more snowmaking and increases of 25 to 49 

percent were projected for an additional four locations. The remaining five study 

areas were projected to make the same amount or less machine-made snow in 2070– 

2099 than 2040–2069 due to the inability to make snow in unsuitably warm temperatures during the early and latter part of the current ski season. 

The higher emission scenario again had a much greater impact on snowmaking 

requirements. In 2010–2039, nine of the study areas were projected to require at 

least 25 percent more machine-made snow. In 2070–2099, three study areas were 

projected to require over a 100 percent increase in machine-made snow and four 

other locations require at 50 to 99 percent more machine-made snow. Snowmaking 

was projected to decline relative to 2040–69 in five locations (West Pennsylvania, 

East Pennsylvania, Southeast New York, West New York, and Connecticut) where 

warm temperature made it unfeasible during parts of the winter months. 

The large increases in snowmaking requirements under climate change also 

raised important questions about the sustainability of this critical adaptation strategy in certain locations. Communities and environmental organizations have expressed concern about the environmental impact of water withdrawals associated 

with snowmaking. Under the higher emission scenario, where a 50–100 percent increase in snowmaking was modelled at several locations, water conflicts may be 

heightened and access to water may be a critical constraint for future snowmaking. 

The economic costs of increased snowmaking (energy and water costs) were not 

factored into this assessment because the detailed economic information required is 

not publicly available, and this remains a critical uncertainty for the future profitability of ski areas in the region. 

Based on this analysis, it would appear that it is not the Northeast ski industry 

that is at risk to climate change but rather individual ski businesses and communities that rely on ski tourism. The probable consequence of climate change will be 

a continuation of the historic contraction and consolidation of the ski industry in 

the region. It will be the relative advantages of local climatic resources and the 

adaptive capacity of individual ski areas that will determine the ’survivors’ in an 

era of climate change. Although projected climate change would contribute to the 

demise of ski businesses in some parts of Northeast, it could advantage some of the 

ski operations that remain. Assuming that skier demand declines only to the level 

observed in the climate change analogue winter of 2001–02 (approximately 10 percent fewer skier visits), then ski businesses in Vermont, Northeast New Hampshire, 

Northeast New York, and West Maine would be in a position to gain market share 

(through diminished competition) and potentially offset revenue losses due to reduced ski seasons and higher snowmaking costs. 

Large corporate ski conglomerates like Intrawest, the American Skiing Company, 

Boyne USA Resorts and Booth Creek Resorts may be less vulnerable to the impacts 

of climate change than single ski operations because they generally have more diversified business operations (real estate, warm-weather tourism resorts and fourseason activities), are better capitalized (so that they can make substantial investments in snowmaking systems) and, perhaps most importantly, are regionally diversified (which reduces their business risk to poor snow conditions in one location). 

Snowmobiling 

According to the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA, 

2004), there are approximately 1.77 million registered snowmobiles in the United 
18 

States. ISMA estimates the economic impact of snowmobiling is equal U.S. $20 billion per annum in the U.S.; over 85,000 full time jobs are generated by the snowmobile industry in North America, including those in manufacturing, dealerships 

and tourism related businesses (ISMA, 2004). 

Due to the long, linear nature of snowmobile trails, snowmaking is rarely a viable 

adaptation option and the snowmobile industry relies almost exclusively on natural 

snowfall. As such, several studies have found that snowmobiling is more vulnerable 

to the negative impacts of climate change than is downhill skiing. A recent study 

of snowmobiling seasons in 15 study areas in the Northeast (Scott et al. 2007) found 

that the climate change scenarios consistently projected a trend toward shorter 

snowmobile seasons throughout the Northeast and a northward shift in the southern margin of snowmobiling activity. As early as 2010–2039, four of the 15 study 

areas are projected to lose more than 50 percent of their snowmobiling season under 

the lower emission scenario and six locations under the higher emission scenario. 

The majority of the 15 locations examined in this study were projected to have marginal or non-existent snowmobile seasons in 2040–2069 under both lower and higher 

emission scenarios. Consequently, the loss of snowmobiling activity and related 

tourism would appear unavoidable in the following locations if the climate change 

scenarios projected for 2040–2069 were realized: Western New York, North-central 

Pennsylvania, Southeast New York, South-central Pennsylvania, East Pennsylvania, 

West Massachusetts, South New Hampshire, and Northeast New York. 

The implication of a substantial decline in nearby opportunities for snowmobile 

participation remains an important uncertainty. If participation remains unchanged 

or declines only slightly, the few locations that are projected to continue to have sufficient natural snow for snowmobiling later into the 21st century (North-central 

New York, North Vermont, South Vermont, North New Hampshire, Northeast 

Maine, and Northwest Maine) may be in a position to market their area to winter 

recreation enthusiasts and potentially benefit from a change in the competitive relationships between winter recreation destinations. Further research is needed to understand the influence of distance costs and destination loyalty on changes in snowmobile patterns as well as the environmental implications of a greater concentration 

of snowmobile activity on the remaining trails with reliable snow conditions. 

Given the projected reductions to an already short snowmobile season in much of 

Northeast, it is possible that snowmobilers may choose to discontinue the use of 

their snowmobile and adopt another type of recreational vehicle that is not limited 

by snow conditions (i.e., all-terrain vehicles [ATVs]) or perhaps a completely different form of recreation. Growing ATV and declining snowmobile sales in the U.S. 

over the last five years may provide evidence to suggest that the transition is already underway in some regions (Suthey Holler Associates 2003). If a large number 

of snowmobilers in the region adopt this climate adaptation strategy there would 

be important implications for land managers and communities, including recreational planning and infrastructure development, to minimize the environmental 

impacts of trail use by ATVs. Under such a scenario, communities that developed 

recreational trail networks for ATVs might gain a competitive advantage over communities that continue to cater to snowmobiles. 

CONCLUSIONS

Although the aforementioned examples of potential climate change impacts discussed are no means exhaustive, it is clear that climate change has far-reaching 

consequences for U.S. recreation and the recreation businesses and industries. Importantly, it must be emphasized that climate change will have both negative and 

positive impacts on recreation sector in the U.S. creating both threats and opportunities for both participants and recreation providers. There will be ‘winners and losers’ at the business and community level, and each will need to adapt to climate 

change but in different ways (e.g., adapting to employment and economic losses 

versus congestion and development pressures). As the tourism and recreation section of the IPCC (2001) North American chapter (section 15.2.6) concluded, until 

systematic regional and industry level assessments are conducted a definitive statement of the net economic or social impacts for this sector will not be possible. At 

the community level, the magnitude of the impact of climate change will depend 

upon the importance of the recreation industries in the regional economy, the characteristics of climate change and its affect on the natural environment, the adaptive 

response of recreationists, the capacity of recreation businesses adapt to climate 

change, and how the impacts of climate change interact with other long-term influencing variables in the recreation sector (globalization and economic fluctuations, 

fuel prices, aging populations in industrialized countries, increasing travel safety 

and health concerns, increased environmental and cultural awareness, advances in 
19 

information and transportation technology, environmental limitations—water supply 

and pollution—and so on). 

Finally, because climate change is already entering into decisionmaking in the 

recreation sector it is in the best interest of the recreation industry and applicable 

government agencies (federal, state and local levels) to engage in collaborative research to determine the potential implications of climate change issue, in order to 

best prepare recreation businesses and communities to minimize the risks and capitalize upon the opportunities likely to be brought about by climate change in an 

economically and environmentally sustainable manner. 

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RESPONSES BY DANIEL SCOTT TO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM SENATOR BOXER

Question 1. Dr. Scott Glacier National Park in Montana once had 150 named glaciers. Now, it has 26. A U.S. Geological Survey study estimates that all of the park’s 

glaciers could disappear by 2030. 

Are you familiar with this study? If we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 

could global warming have the same devastating impacts on winter recreation in 

other areas during this century? 

Response. Yes, I am familiar with this study in Glacier National Park. In terms 

of glacial retreat, similar trends are being observed in other areas of the Rocky 

Mountains and similar projections of future large-scale melting of glaciers are projected throughout the Rocky Mountains in the United States and southern Canada 

(see the report of the IPCC 2007—‘‘The Physical Science Basis’’). This may have important impact for landscape aesthetics and the number of people who visit Glacier 
22 

National Park and other parks where glaciers are projected to retreat substantially 

(see surveying of tourists in Waterton and Banff National Parks in the southern Canadian Rockies—Scott et al. 2007). 

With respect to the implications of climate change for winter recreation and tourism, large impacts are projected for snow-based winter sports, such as skiing and 

snowmobiling, in the United States. The ski industry has been repeatedly identified 

as being particularly vulnerable to climate change and studies on the ski industry 

in the United States, with several recent studies (California—Hayhoe et al. 2004; 

Pacific Northwest—Casola et al. 2005, Rocky Mountains—Reuer 2006, Aspen Colorado—Aspen Global Change Institute 2006, New England—Scott 2007) projecting 

negative impacts, though to varying degrees and over different time horizons. Information on the impact on snowmobiling is currently more limited, but the available 

research suggests that snowmobiling is more vulnerable to the negative impacts of 

climate change than is downhill skiing because snowmaking is not a viable adaptation strategy. A recent study of snowmobiling seasons in 15 study areas in the 

Northeast (Scott 2007) found that the climate change scenarios consistently projected a trend toward shorter snowmobile seasons throughout the Northeast and a 

northward shift in the southern margin of snowmobiling activity. The majority of 

the 15 locations examined in this study were projected to have marginal or non-existent snowmobile seasons in 2040–2069 under both lower and higher emission scenarios. 

Question 2. Dr. Scott, describe the potential impacts from global warming without 

reducing greenhouse gas emission, on the frequency and intensity of fires and outbreaks of pests as well as water availability in the forests of the western United 

States during this century? 

Please also describe the potential impacts that these factors could have on residences, businesses, and public safety, as well as on resorts and outdoor recreation. 

Response. There are a number of studies on these topics done by experts in each 

respective field of climate change impact assessment (wildfires, pests and vegetation 

disturbance regimes, water resources). Research results from the USDA Forest 

Service Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station in 2004 suggest an increased fire 

risk throughout most of the region. The combination of drought stress, which weakens trees to pest disturbance, and improved climatic conditions for certain insect 

pests, allowing some to expand their range or have more than one annual breeding 

cycle, are anticipated to lead to an increase in large outbreaks in much of Western 

United States. The magnitude of the impact of climate change varies by individual 

pest species and by region. Thus, expert sources such as ‘Climate Change Impacts 

on the United States’ (2000) and the IPCC 4th Assessment Report—‘‘Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability’’ (2007) should be consulted for further information on specific regions of interest. Increased wildfire and pest disturbance are anticipated to 

have negative impact on the recreation sector through adverse impacts on landscape 

aesthetics and in severe cases increased risk to recreation infrastructure and public 

safely. 

There are also many credible studies of the implications of climate change for 

water resources in the Western United States (for summaries see: ‘Climate Change 

Impacts on the United States’ 2000 and the IPCC 4th Assessment Report—‘‘Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability’’ 2007). The reduced availability of water resources due to population-economic growth and climate change are projected to have 

many impacts for the recreation sector, including the future viability of some forms 

of recreation (e.g., golf course irrigation in desert regions like Las Vegas). The affects of reduced water resources on recreation can already be seen in the region. For 

example, as a result of recent drought in western states, the Colorado River Outfitters Association experienced a 40 percent decline in business, with an estimated impact of $50 million (Associated Press 2002) and water levels in the Lake Mead, the 

largest western U.S. reservoir with 10 million visitors annually, dropped nearly 30- 

meter since 1999. Each six-metre reduction in water level costs $6 million for adapting infrastructure (Allen et al. 2003). 

Question 3. Dr. Scott, the Sierra Nevada snowpack provides California with water 

storage and winter sports opportunities. The State of California has said that by 

2064 this snowpack could decrease by up to 47 percent, and by the end of the century it could decrease by up to 90 

What impact would such diminished water supplies have on the outdoor recreation industry, both winter and summer, particularly with anticipated drinking 

water and agricultural water needs? 

Response. As studies have indicated, if such declines in the snow pack were realized the impacts on various sectors of the California economy would indeed be significant. I will limit my remarks to my area of expertise, the recreation-tourism sec-
23 

tor. The impact of such a decline in the natural snow pack would have a very negative impact on the skiing industry. Initially, more snowmaking would be required, 

driving up operating costs and prices to consumers. Importantly, as other sectors 

will be requiring additional water resources, snowmaking may not be an option for 

some ski operators that cannot acquire adequate water rights. Without snowmaking, 

many ski areas are likely to be put out of business under high-emission climate 

change scenarios for mid-21st century. The impacts on summer recreation will not 

be as dramatic, but some negative impacts are likely where limited water supplies 

limit the capacity of recreation use in some high visitation areas, such as parks, or 

for activities that require certain water volumes or temperatures in lakes and 

streams, such as rafting or fishing. 

Question 4. Dr. Scott, can you describe the potential impacts of climate change 

on southern California’s summer outdoor recreation season in the middle and late 

part of this century if we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions? 

Response. Very little research has been done on this question and it remains an 

important area for future study given the economic importance of this sector in 

southern California. Generally speaking the climate resources for tourism in southern California would deteriorate under high-emission scenarios as the following figure from one of my studies suggests (Scott et al. 2004). The decline in the ‘tourism 

climate index’ in the Los Angeles area is the result of increased heat stress in the 

summer months (see notable decline in June-July-August-Sept in the British 

HadCM3 scenario). The decline in climatic suitability for general tourism activities 

also suggests the climatic conditions for many general recreation activities, like 

camping, golfing, hiking would decline in the peak summer months as well due to 

excessive heat. 

Question 5. Dr. Scott, what impact could climate change have on snowmobilers 

across the United States, including the Northeast, Midwest, and western states by 

the middle and late pan of this century if we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions? 

Response. A recent study I conducted of snowmobiling seasons in 15 study areas 

in the Northeast (Scott 2007) found that the climate change scenarios consistently 

projected a trend toward shorter snowmobile seasons throughout the Northeast and 

a northward shift in the southern margin of snowmobiling activity. The majority of 

the 15 locations examined in this study were projected to have marginal or non-existent snowmobile seasons in 2040–2069 under both lower and higher emission scenarios. Consequently, the loss of snowmobiling activity and related tourism would 

appear largely unavoidable in the following locations if the climate change scenarios 

projected for 2040–2069 were realized: Western New York, North-central Pennsylvania, Southeast New York, South-central Pennsylvania, East Pennsylvania, West 

Massachusetts, South New Hampshire, and Northeast New York. I have provided 

further details about the anticipated regional impacts on these two multi-billion dollar industries in my written testimony. 

No studies specific to the Midwest are available, however a study of the potential 

impact of climate change on snowmobiling in southern Canada found that under the 

high emission scenario for the 2050s, a reliable snowmobiling season would be essentially eliminated from Canada’s non-mountainous regions (McBoyle et al. 2007). 

Given the Midwest is more southerly in latitude than the study areas in the Canadian study, the anticipated impacts would be of a similar magnitude, if not more 

severe or sooner. 

Question 6. Dr. Scott, if we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions, what impact 

could climate change have on New England’s fall tourist season, particularly on recreational opportunities involving fall foliage? 

Response. Climate change is anticipated to negatively impact tourism associated 

with the viewing of fall foliage (leaf colors) (Bloomfield and Hamburg 1997, Union 
24 

of Concerned Scientists 2007) due to the northward shift in the range of species 

with colourful leaves, such as maple and aspen (see modeling by Iverson and Prasad 

1998). 

Question 7. Dr. Scott, what impact could climate change have on bird watching 

and hunting, including migratory birds, in the middle and late part of this century 

if we fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? 

Response. The ‘The Birdwatcher’s Guide to Global Warming’ (Price and Glick 

2002) outlines the concerns of the bird watching community about the potential impact of climate change on their recreation. Bird species can be affected by climatic 

changes in a number of ways, including changes in their habitat range, availability 

of food sources at certain times of the year, the timing and path of migrations, and 

nesting behaviour. Research suggests that climatic changes during the 20th century 

have already had a discernable impact on bird populations in North America (Price 

and Glick 2002) and Europe (Lemoine and Bohning-Gaese 2002). Climate change in 

the 21st century is projected to further impact the distribution and diversity of bird 

populations in North America. Price and Root (2001) argue that the number of 

neotropical migrant species present in the United States would decline under projected climate change, with the largest species losses in the Eastern Midwest (¥30 

percent), Great Lakes (¥29 percent), Mid-Atlantic (¥23 percent), and Southeast 

(¥22 percent) regions. With an estimated one in every three of North American 

songbirds born in Canada’s boreal forest Blancher 2002), the projected decline and 

retreat of the southern boreal forest due to climate change (Hogg and Hurdle 1995, 

Scott et al. 2002) has important implications for songbird populations. The degradation or loss of critical habitats (particularly key wetlands) could have a significant 

impact on birding destinations. The increased rarity of some species could however 

generate increased tourism, as birders travel further in search of these species. 

There are also negative impact projected for many duck populations that are important resources for hunters in the Midwest and elsewhere (LeBlanc et al. 1991, Wildlife Society 2004). 

Question 8. Dr. Scott, what impact of climate change have on the recreational industry of the Southwestern United States in the middle and late pan of this century 

if we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions? 

Response. There is little research available on the potential impact of climate 

change to the recreation sector in this region of the United States. However, probably the two most important potential impacts of climate change for the recreation 

sector will be to increase temperature extremes and exacerbate existing water supply problems. Increased temperatures may further restrict participation in certain 

recreation activities during parts of the year, due to heat stress risks and may bring 

high water users, like golf courses, into conflict with other water uses. However, further research is needed if we are to understand the potential magnitude of impacts. 

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Hayhoe K., Cayan D., Field C., et al (2004) Emission pathways, climate change, 

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Reuer, M. (2006) Regional challenges of future climate change: endless summer 

or business as usual? The 2006 Colorado College State of the Rockies Report Card. 

Colorado Springs: Colorado College. 85–103. 

Scott (2007) Impacts on Winter Recreation. Confronting Climate Change in the 

U.S. Northeast. A Report of the U.S. Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment. Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists. 81–89 

Scott, D., Malcolm, J. and Lemieux, C. (2002) Climate change and modeled biome 

representation in Canada’s national park system: implications for system planning 

and park mandates. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 11(6), 475–485. 

Scott, D., McBoyle, G., and Schwartzentruber, M. (2004). Climate change and the 

distribution of climatic resources for tourism in North America. Climate Research, 

27(2), 105–117. 

Scott, D., Jones, B., Konopek, J. (2007) Implications of climate and environmental 

change for nature-based tourism in the Canadian Rocky Mountains: A case study 

of Waterton Lakes National Park. Tourism Management, 28 (2), 570–579 

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Northeast. A Report of the U.S. Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment. Cambridge, 

MA: Union of Concerned Scientists. 

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Global Change Research Program. Cambridge University Press, New York, USA. 

Wildlife Society. (2004). Global climate change and wildlife in North America 

(Technical Review 04–02). Bethesda, Maryland: The Wildlife Society. 

Senator BOXER. Thank you very much, sir. 

Tom Campion, founder of Zumiez, we welcome you. 

STATEMENT OF TOM CAMPION, FOUNDER, ZUMIEZ, INC. 

Mr. CAMPION. Chairman Boxer, thank you for inviting me to 

come to talk today. 

Good morning, Senators. My name is Tom Campion and I am the 

founder and chairman of Zumiez, Inc. We are a chain of more than 

250 action sports retail stores located in 24 States. Ten of these 

States are represented by members of your Senate committee, including California, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, Montana, 

Idaho, Wyoming and Oklahoma. 

Over the last 29 years, we have built an incredible business in 

serving the teenage surf, skateboard, and snowboard lifestyles, the 

action sports market. We are one of the largest retailers in the 

United States for snowboard hard goods and winter-related apparel. 

The growth in this segment of retail has contributed to our having yearly comparable stores sales gains in 28 of our 29 years in 

existence. We currently employ over 3,000 people in the United 

States and expect to grow our employee base by about 20 percent 
26 

a year. Our long-term success has allowed the company to go public 

in 2005 and our business plan includes expanding to 800 stores nationwide over the next 10 years. 

I am here today to speak about the impacts of global warming 

on the outdoor recreation industry, which is the winter component 

of my action sports business. Enclosed, Senators, with my written 

comments, is a list showing over 7,000 retail store locations in the 

United States that carry winter-related outdoor products. 

While my comments speak specifically to outdoor recreation specialty retailers, global warming will affect all clothing retailers in 

major parts of the United States. Senators, I have been in the 

clothing business for over 37 years. It has been my experience that 

weather is the single biggest influence on the purchase of clothes, 

larger even, in my 37 years in retail, than the state of the economy. 

Weather is a very powerful motivator. When it gets cold, you buy 

a jacket. You purchase gloves and a knit hat. When it turns warm, 

you buy a T-shirt and shorts. Without changes in weather or seasons, customers would shop more sporadically and respond more to 

fashion cycles, and often it can be very disruptive to retailers. 

This past winter, we saw unseasonably warm weather in the 

Midwest and the Northeast United States, where Zumiez has over 

70 stores. This season, the sales of winter apparel and winter-related hard goods were down dramatically. The lack of sales resulted in lower employment levels in the region and lower payment 

of State sales taxes. The shortened winter season reduced consumer demand for winter products, and led to the backing-up of 

seasonal inventories and the necessity of early markdowns of these 

products. 

I will give you one small example. Zumiez has 40 stores between 

New York and New Jersey. Senator Lautenberg, we have 12 stores 

currently in New Jersey and plan to add about 12 more in our 

business plan. Our comparable store sales just in snow-related 

hard goods, (snowboards and bindings and snow-related soft goods, 

which would be the jackets, pants, base layers), in the same stores 

were over 20 percent less than comparable store sales the year before. These figures were even more significant because the drop occurred during the heavily-weighted Christmas gift-giving season. 

But when winter did arrive in late January, our profits margins 

by then were seriously eroded because customers expect in January 

and on to buy heavily marked-down products this deep into the 

season. 

Clothing taxes are heavily weighted on the sales in the fourth 

quarter of the year, which is Christmas and the bulk of the winter 

shopping season. When winters are warmer or come late, margins 

erode. Merchandise backs up, employment levels suffer, and States 

lose an historic resource for their State budgets. 

Just in New York State alone in the last 2 months of 2005, 

Zumiez, with our 28 stores, in the last 2 months paid over $200,000 

in city, county and State sales taxes on our winter-related hard 

goods and soft goods. If you consider the over 7,000 retail store locations across the country carrying winter-related products, you 

can understand the contribution of our business sector to the economy, and can imagine the potential economic effect of warmer winters across the country. 
27 

But the economic effects of global warming on retail sales will go 

far beyond just the stores that specialize in sales of outdoor apparel. One example would be the ski resort industry. The skiing 

season’s length and the quality of downhill skiing and 

snowboarding will be strongly affected in the coming years. Revenues in ski areas will likely decline due to lack of snow, and some 

areas such as your Sierra Nevadas, it could be completely lost to 

the sport. 

Senators for almost 30 years, I built my business based in large 

part on supplying the winter needs for my market for where I am 

now in the United States. I am really successful at what I do, 

enough to grow to 250 stores. I have overcome every business challenge in the last 30 years. But if I am going to execute the business 

plan I have told the public markets, and grow to 800 stores—and 

personally our company could add 7,000 employees to the economy 

of the United States—I need your help. We need to acknowledge 

that global warming is here, and that it is bigger than any one 

business sector can handle and deal with on its own. As a country, 

we need to start dealing with global warming now. 

Thank you very much. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Campion follows:] 

STATEMENT OF TOM CAMPION, FOUNDER, ZUMIEZ, INC. 

Good morning. My name is Tom Campion. I’m the founder and chairman of 

Zumiez Inc., a chain of more than 250 action sports retail stores that are located 

in 24 states. Ten of these states are represented by members of your Senate committee, including California, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, 

Wyoming and Oklahoma. Over the last 29 years we have built up an incredible 

business in serving teenage surf, skateboard and snowboard lifestyles: the Action 

Sports market. We are one of the largest retailers in the United States for 

snowboard hard goods and winter-related apparel. The growth in this segment of 

retail has contributed to our having yearly comparable store sales gains for 28 of 

our 29 years in business. We currently employ over 3,000 people and expect to grow 

our employee base by 20 percent a year. Our long-term success allowed the company 

to go public with a stock offering in 2005, and our business plan includes expanding 

to 800 stores nationwide over the next ten years. To learn more about Zumiez, I 

would refer you to our public SEC filings. 

WEATHER AND CLOTHING PURCHASES

I’m here today to speak to the impacts of global warming on the outdoor recreation industry, the winter component of my action sports business. Enclosed with 

my written comments is a list showing 7,000 retail locations in the United States 

that carry winter-related outdoor recreation products. 

While my comments speak specifically to outdoor recreation specialty retailers, 

global warming will affect all clothing retailers in major parts of the United States. 

I’ve been in the clothing business for 37 years, and in my experience weather is the 

single biggest influence on purchases of clothes—larger even than the health of the 

economy. Weather is a very powerful motivator: when it gets cold you buy a jacket, 

you purchase gloves, a knit hat, and other items. When the weather turns warmer 

you buy a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Without changes in weather customers shop 

more sporadically and in response to fashion cycles which can be very disruptive. 

CLOTHING SALES DOWN DRAMATICALLY LAST WINTER

This past winter saw unseasonably warm weather in the Midwest and the Northeast United States, where Zumiez has over 70 stores. This season the sales of winter 

apparel and winter-related hard goods were down dramatically. The lack of sales 

resulted in lower employment levels in the region, and lower payments for state 

sales taxes. The shortened winter season reduced consumer demand for winter products and led to a backing-up of seasonal inventories and the necessity for early 

markdowns of products. 
28 

Let me give you one small example from this last winter season: Zumiez has 40 

stores between New York and New Jersey. There was no snow—or even significant 

cold weather—until late January 2007. Our comparable store sales in snow-related 

hard goods (snowboards, snowboard boots, bindings, gloves, goggles, and snow accessories) were down approximately 20 percent from the previous year. Snow-related 

soft goods (jackets, pants, base layer, etc.) in the same stores were more than 20 

percent lower in comparables than the same categories company-wide. These sales 

figures are even more significant because the drops occurred during the heavilyweighted Christmas gift-giving season. Though winter did arrive in late January, 

our profit margins by then were eroded because customers expect to buy heavily 

marked-down products this deep into the season. 

Clothing taxes are heavily weighted on sales in the 4th quarter of the year, which 

is Christmas and the bulk of the winter shopping season. When winters are warmer 

or come late, margins erode, merchandise backs up, employment levels suffer and 

states lose an historically solid resource for their state budgets. 

Just in New York state in the last 2 months of 2006, Zumiez stores paid over 

$200,000 in city, county, and state sales taxes on snow-related hard goods and soft 

goods. If you then consider that over 7,000 retail store locations carry winter-related 

products nationwide, you can understand the contribution of our business sector to 

the economy, and can imagine the potential economic effect of warmer winters 

across the country. 

IMPACTS TO SKI RESORTS

But the economic effects of global warming on retail sales will go far beyond just 

the stores that specialize in the sales of outdoor apparel. It will dramatically affect 

many retailers of winter sports, products and business, as well as traditional businesses. One example is the ski resort industry. The skiing season’s length and the 

quality of downhill skiing and snowboarding will be strongly affected in the coming 

years. Revenues in ski areas will likely decline due to a lack of snow, and some 

areas (such as in the Sierra Nevada) may be completely lost to the sport. 

IMPACTS TO SPORTS EQUIPMENT EXPORTS

The trend towards warmer winter weather and the negative effects on snowfall 

and accumulation are also being seen in Europe and Asia. Snowfalls in Europe were 

down significantly this season, with very negative effects on the downhill skiing industry. Europe had the warmest December since records began in 1879. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development warned that many low-level resorts could soon be unviable, and predicted warmer temperatures in the future. Already, some banks are refusing to offer loans to resorts that are located at elevations under 5,000 feet (1,500 metres) due to fears for future snow cover. Germany 

is threatened the most, followed by some Austrian and Italian resorts. This in turn 

had negative economic consequences for the United States because American manufacturers export winter sports equipment to Europe and Asia. 

IMPACTS TO BUSINESS CYCLES

The negative economic effects of global warming on winter apparel and sports 

equipment suppliers would mean fewer jobs in the future in these businesses. The 

lower revenues would mean that these businesses would purchase fewer materials, 

goods, and support services from other companies. These direct and indirect effects 

would result in a decrease in household income for many families, and would induce 

additional negative impacts as these households decrease their purchases from local 

businesses. The local economic impacts could be quite severe in an area that depends heavily on the health of a winter sports resort or business. Local land values 

could fall, and government costs and revenues could be greatly affected. 

IMPACTS TO ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL PROCESSES

The climate changes that will come to pass from global warming will ultimately 

affect the income, wealth, environment, and quality of life both overall and for particular groups of people. Changing ecosystems will affect the numbers and distribution of many plants and animals. Some of these changes will be subtle, but others 

may be dramatic, as in the retreat of cold-adapted species and the expansion of the 

range of various pests that do not tolerate cold or freezing conditions. Reductions 

in snowpack would have very negative consequences in the Pacific Northwest, where 

river flows, public water supplies and salmon habitat are all strongly dependent on 

the contribution of snowmelt. Reduced river flows would also affect river sports 

(boating, fishing, etc.) 
29 

Throughout the West, warmer dryer conditions would increase the occurrence 

fires and increase the difficulties of controlling such fires. Diminished water and 

higher fire seasons might also lead to more limited access to summer recreational 

opportunities and impacts to camping and hiking equipment and clothing purchases. 

I’ve included some additional materials with my comments that provide some figures on the winter sports industry and business, and that show the economic contribution of these businesses to all regions of the United States. A few references 

are also provided to some of the literature about global warming and its effects. 

Climate change poses a serious challenge to social and economic development in 

all countries. I’d like to recommend that the United States take a positive and leadership role in responding to and addressing global warming. Ten bills have been introduced in Congress to initiate this greater response. While the particular mix of 

measures varies between the bills, the reduction of CO2 contributions and the overall reduction of atmospheric CO2 must be our objectives. The analysis by the World 

Resources Institute indicate that at this point, the measures in S. 309, the SandersBoxer bill in the Senate and the corresponding H. 1590 in the House, would best 

accomplish these objectives. 

Senators, for almost 30 years I’ve built up my business, based in large part on 

supplying the needs of the winter season in the United States. I’ve been very successful—enough to expand to 250 stores. I’ve overcome every business challenge to 

date. But if I’m going to execute my business plan to grow to 800 stores and employ 

an additional 7,000 people, I need your help. We need to acknowledge that global 

warming is here and that it is bigger than any one business sector can handle on 

its own. As a country we need to start dealing with global warming now. 
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Senator BOXER. Thank you, Mr. Campion, for your very eloquent 

testimony, and also just giving us the numbers to back it up. We 

appreciate it. 

Betty Huskins, chair of the Southeast Tourism Policy Council. 

Welcome. 

STATEMENT OF BETTY HUSKINS, CHAIR, SOUTHEAST 

TOURISM POLICY COUNCIL, ADVANTAGEWEST 

Ms. HUSKINS. Thank you. I appreciate your, Senator Boxer, inviting me to be here today. I would also like to thank you for your 

leadership in this arena. 

I come to you today wearing several hats. First of all, I am the 

chairman of the Southeast Tourism Policy Council, which is an arm 

of the Southeast Tourism Society, which represents tourism businesses and organizations in 11 southern States, of which in all of 

those, tourism is either the first or second largest industry in those 

States. 

Second, I am the senior vice president for a regional economic development group in the mountains of North Carolina, called 

AdvantageWest. We were established by the North Carolina General Assembly. 

Last, but not least, I come to you as a business owner in the 

tourism industry. My husband and I are fortunate enough to own 

a lodge and restaurant that his family built in 1937, adjacent to 

a 90-foot waterfalls, Linville Falls, and within walking distance to 

America’s first wilderness area in eastern America. 

So I wear several hats to be able to talk to you about how it really is affecting things on the ground level. First, I will tell you a little story. We never get hurricanes in the mountains of North Carolina. As a rule, that is a coastal issue that we worry about our 

friends on the coast. But in 2005, due to the flooding, we received 

19 inches of rain in 24 hours. The Blue Ridge Parkway was washed 

away in five different locations, and it was closed for almost 2 

years to make those repairs. 

So it was very difficult as a small business owner to be able to 

live through that, and be able to hold onto your business. We were 

fortunate enough to do that, but many of our friends were not, so 

a lot of businesses were closed in North Carolina. 

At Southeast Tourism Society, we are very concerned about the 

tourism product. We have been so concerned about it that in 2004 

we held our first Federal Summit in Louisville, KY. We brought together the private sector tourism people. We brought together the 

Federal land managers for the Federal lands in the Southeast, and 

we spent 3 days discussing ways that we could collaborate and 

work better together. 

I am proud to tell you that that summit resulted in a memorandum of understanding between us and 12 Federal agencies, to 

have that discussion. We continue to do that on a regular basis. We 

are meeting quarterly with our Federal partners. 

Now, in North Carolina, my home where I work and live, we 

boast two of the most visited parks in the Nation: the Great Smoky 

Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. It contributes about $7.5 billion annually to our economy, and Senator Sanders, it provides about 95,000 jobs in our State. It consistently ranks 
68 

at the top of the reasons of why people come to the State of North 

Carolina. 

My personal experience as an economic developer I would like to 

share with you. As you know, North Carolina led the Nation in the 

loss of manufacturing jobs 2 years in a row. Most of that was in 

furniture and textiles, and I am glad to say that we are back. We 

are coming back with a strong economy now. In my region, the natural resources and an asset-based economic development strategy 

has sustained us during that time that we were losing all those 

manufacturing jobs. We have been able to hold on to our quality 

of life. 

It is interesting to me now to see that we are working with entrepreneurs that are coming there because we have created skills 

from that furniture industry as boat builders. The boat building 

companies are coming to North Carolina. We have announced three 

of those in the last year. They are looking for those skills that we 

had in the furniture industry. 

We are working with entrepreneurs that are building the better 

bicycles, doing innovative products with kayaks, and also one company that is doing what we would call a high end tailgating product that they are putting out on the market right now. 

So all of those things are related to outdoor recreation, and they 

are critically important to those communities that I work with that 

are gateway communities next to Federal and public lands. So this 

industry, along with technology and advanced manufacturing, is 

helping us create a new economy and a strong quality of life, and 

it is critically important to us. 

Now having said all that, we believe that probably the most important aspect is that Americans really need the outdoors. Their 

health probably depends on it. I know I am preaching to the choir 

because I have heard all of you speak today. I don’t know if you 

have read ‘‘The Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from 

Nature Deficit Disorder.’’ You probably all have. But if you haven’t, 

I would say that you might be shocked to hear quotes like, ‘‘I like 

to play indoors because that is where all the electrical outlets are.’’ 

You also might find it shocking to know that a survey taken in 

2002 by the Science Journal found that more children knew the 

characters in the Pokemon game than could identify an otter, a 

beetle, or an oak tree. That is pretty amazing. 

But we believe that the knowledge of nature is the best weapon 

for our young people to learn about stewardship of Mother Earth. 

So we need families traveling together to national parks, camping, 

fishing, exploring nature. We really cannot simulate that experience inside the home. 

So in conclusion, let me say like it or not, change is a part of life, 

and we know that the environmental change in global warming has 

the potential to profoundly affect us both economically and personally. At the Southeast Tourism Society, we stand ready to collaborate with you and our Federal partners to develop ways that we 

can blunt the impact of environmental change, and protect our natural resources. We believe we have to all work together and make 

the hard decisions and take personal responsibility. 

Thank you very much. 

[The prepared statement of Ms. Huskins follows:] 
69 

STATEMENT OF BETTY HUSKINS, CHAIR, SOUTHEAST TOURISM

POLICY COUNCIL, ADVANTAGEWEST

INTRODUCTION

Good morning! Thank you Madam Chairman for inviting me to testify before this 

esteemed body. I come to you wearing several hats. First, I am representing the 

Southeast Tourism Policy Council, an arm of the Southeast Tourism Society which 

is a non-profit, 501(c)6, membership organization that covers 11 Southern States. 

The organization is dedicated to the development of industry organizations & professionals and the promotion of tourism within and to STS member states by sharing 

resources, fostering cooperation, networking, providing continuing education, cooperative marketing, consumer outreach, advice & consultation, governmental affairs 

and other programs. Membership includes State Travel Offices, Convention & Visitors’ Bureaus & other Destination Marketing Organizations, attractions, advertising, lodging, media, educational institutions, product suppliers, travel writers and 

other related industry segments. 

Second, I come to you as the Senior Vice President of a regional economic development organization, AdvantageWest Economic Development Group, created by the 

North Carolina General Assembly to serve twenty three mountain counties in North 

Carolina. I work in rural, gateway communities every day as part of my job. 

Last, but not least I am a small business owner. My husband and I own and operate The Linville Falls Lodge adjacent to the first wilderness area in Eastern America, the Linville Gorge and less than a mile off the Blue Ridge Parkway, America’s 

most visited Scenic Highway. Our business has been in his family since 1937. 

STS appreciates your invitation to appear before the Environmental and Public 

Works Committee to discuss the issue of the potential impacts of global warming 

on recreation and the recreation industry and I want to thank you for your service 

in this body. It is no simple task to assume the responsibility of debating public policy regarding global warming and it affects on our society and the generations that 

come after us. As a tourism professional, I have witnessed the impact environmental 

changes are having on the travel and tourism industry as a whole. The Blue Ridge 

Parkway was closed almost 2 years after the flooding caused by the hurricanes of 

2005. We were fortunate to weather that disaster at our small business. However, 

many of our friends were not so fortunate. 

The tourism industry knows that fundamental policy issues must be addressed in 

order to sustain many of the very products, such as our publicly owned lands to remain appealing and available for future generations. 

As tourism professionals, we recognize the impact environmental changes are having on the travel and tourism industry as a whole. In fact, in 2004 STS brought 

together private sector tourism marketers and public sector federal land managers 

to find common ground on ways that our natural, historical and cultural treasures 

could be preserved for future generations. As such, it represented a milestone in the 

changing tourism environment. The summit proposed to explore the magnitude of 

the travel and tourism industry and to develop a better understanding of the economic and social roles played by public land managing agencies at the Federal and 

State levels. Such a Summit was long overdue, and it was essential that the private 

tourism industry and public lands agencies engage one another in positive dialogue 

and comprehensive strategies to develop, market, and use public lands in sustainable ways that will not impair resource values. 

The policies that guide the operation of the tourism industry and the policies that 

guide the use and development of public lands deserve thoughtful attention and the 

travel and tourism industry in the southeast is aggressively pursuing public private 

partnerships to insure protection of our treasured natural, cultural and historical 

resources for future generations. 

Fundamental policy issues must be addressed in order for the tourism industry 

to sustain itself and for our publicly owned lands to remain appealing and available 

for future generations. Tourism is hugely important to our region’s economy and to 

our quality of life. We recognize the need to address environmental change and degradation on our industry’s future ability to provide economic stimulus to so many 

of our rural communities. 

As recreationists, we understand our environmental responsibility to be stewards 

of the treasured resources in our region. In fact, recreationists were at the vanguard 

of calling for environmental legislation in the 60’s and ’70s, which is the primary 

rationale behind many of the regulatory goals that are framed in ‘‘fishable and 

swimmable waters’’ and Class 1 viewsheds in national parks. Protecting both the 

recognition of tourism as a vital component of federal land management policies and 

our natural resources is why we favor, common sense proposals to balance the needs 
70 

of tourists and the environment, for example, lowered emissions from our cars and 

trucks and other recreational products. 

That said, Americans love the outdoors and benefit from time in the outdoors— 

both the magnificence of significant parklands like the Great Smokies and small 

wonders like urban green space—and we can’t take actions which shut people up 

in their homes, unable to enjoy and benefit from the public lands and waters that 

are their birthright. 

There is nothing wrong with driving to the beach, a national park or a ski area. 

And there is nothing wrong with camping and boating and riding horses and 

ATVs—activities that require an ability to carry and tow sizeable items. As we encourage changes to reduce emissions, let’s not create other problems—including 

health problems or crises for rural communities dependent on recreation and tourism. 

In our smaller rural settings and gateway communities, recreation is the primary 

economic generator. 

In fact, the recreation economy: 

• Contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy • Supports nearly 6.5 million jobs across the United States • Generates $88 billion in annual state and national tax revenue • Provides sustainable growth in rural communities • Generates $289 billion annually in retail sales and services across the United 

States • Touches over 8 percent of America’s personal consumption expenditures—more than 1 in every $12 circulating in the economy 

In my home state of North Carolina, spectacular recreation sites, from Mt. Mitchell to the Outer Banks, bring tourism dollars from out-of-state outdoor recreation 

participants. In the small village of Linville falls where I live and operate a business, we depend on it for our livelihood. In North Carolina alone, outdoor recreation 

contributes more than $7.5 billion annually to North Carolina’s economy and supports 95,000 jobs across the state. The bottom line for us is simple. Outdoor recreation creates sustainable long-term economic growth and community development 

for many small businesses. 

I would like to share another perspective with you regarding the economic importance of outdoor recreation I have seen recently in the mountains of North Carolina. 

As you know, North Carolina led the nation for two years in the loss of manufacturing jobs. Those jobs were primarily in textiles and furniture. We have been on 

a long road of recovery. However, the mountain region in particular, has sustained 

itself because of their bountiful natural resources and our people’s ability to focus 

on an asset-based economic development strategy. It has been interesting to see the 

boat manufacturers moving to our region to fill the gap created by the loss of furniture manufacturers. They have come for many reasons, but certainly the skills of 

fine furniture makers in our labor force have been very instrumental in luring them 

to North Carolina. In addition, we at AdvantageWest find ourselves now working 

with entrepreneurs manufacturing new bicycle products, better kayaks, innovative 

campers, and high-end tailgating equipment. All of these products focused on the 

great outdoors. 

Outdoor recreation is vital to the local economies of rural America. White House 

recognition of tourism as an important tool in rural economic development came on 

January 22, 1990, when the President ordered implementation of the Report on 

Rural Economic Development for the 90s. This report explains that opportunities for 

economic development for rural America will be found primarily in off-farm employment opportunities, especially in industries such as tourism, retirement living, and 

commercial recreation, which all serve to bring additional income to rural communities. In remarks on October 28, 1991, the President state: ‘‘More and more rural 

communities are making tourism a part of the economic development option for the 

nineties. And the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration, along with other government agencies, is working to put small-town America on the tourist map. As part 

of that initiative, federal agencies will provide leadership for educational outreach 

programs in rural tourism development.’’ 

But outdoor recreation encompasses far more than economic development. Perhaps one of the most significant observations with regards to the benefits of outdoor 

recreation is the important role it can play in improving the overall health of Americans. There is a profound connection with outdoor recreation to a healthy lifestyle. 

Obesity has been declared epidemic. Connecting the benefits of outdoor recreation 

and the positive effects it can have on obesity offers a possible solution for this crisis 

affecting so many Americans. 

Now, more than ever, we need to be promoting outdoor recreation and its benefits, 

particularly to our youth. There is growing evidence that today’s children are gravi-
71 

tating away from outdoor experiences and towards a virtual indoor reality. This disconnect from nature has serious long-term implications for the cognitive, physical, 

social and emotional well-being our nation’s children. Richard Louv’s recent book 

‘‘Last Child in the Woods—Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder’’ analyzes the societal problems that have arisen in the last generation of youth, who 

have lost contact with nature. Louv quoted a fifth-grader who claimed, ‘‘I like to 

play indoors better cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.’’ 

We must find smarter solutions to the global warming issues, but we cannot replace the value of a family spending time together in their RV in a national park, 

or a grandparent’s right to pull the family boat to the lake to teach their grandchildren the excitement of catching a fish. We cannot simulate those priceless experiences through video games from inside our homes without becoming unhealthy 

and uninspired. 

Kids need to know about nature. It nurtures, educates and instills them with a 

sense of stewardship for the environment. A survey reported in 2002 in The Journal 

of Science found that more children knew the characters in the electronic game 

Pokemon than could identify an otter, beetle or oak tree. Nationwide, the science 

literacy of citizens—both young and old—has eroded. The implications of this oversight represent the most critical global challenge, one that our country cannot afford 

to overlook. The promotion of outdoor recreation offers a significant alternative approach towards educating our young people about the importance of stewardship. 

Knowledge of nature is their best weapon if young people are to ultimately make 

good decisions about personal health, climate change and land-use management. 

They need to touch flowers and know why some plants cannot survive without insect pollinators, to walk in a forest and understand how many millions of years were 

required to create petroleum from dead plants. 

So important is this issue that the American Recreation Coalition and the National Forest Foundation convened a series of Recreation Forums in earlier this year 

designed to provide organizations and individual’s opportunities to: 

• identify unmet needs and challenges facing recreation on public lands; and 

• provide examples of successful and innovative efforts to provide the nation with 

outstanding outdoor recreation experiences on public lands, and especially national 

forests; and 

• express ideas and offer suggestions for enhancing the ability of public lands to 

meet the recreation needs of—and the resulting benefits to—the American public. 

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Like it or not, inevitably change is a part of life. As we grapple with changes to 

our environment, changes in our economy, and changes to the way our children play 

and learn, we must recognize the critical role that tourism plays in addressing each 

of these challenges. The impact of environmental change and global warming has 

the potential to profoundly affect our businesses and our communities. Recognizing 

this is why the tourism industry has already begun to reach out to our federal partners to collaborate on ways we can blunt the impact of environmental change and 

protect our natural resources of decades to come. 

Through the STPC and a memorandum of understanding with 12 federal agencies, we have already begun to partner with the federal management, we stand 

ready to work with Congress to identify and implement policies that will ensure our 

environment, our communities, and our economy are not only protected, but thrive. 

In conclusion, we believe we must all work together, across party lines and across 

economic and environmental barriers to do the right thing for us, our children and 

our grandchildren. We must make the hard decisions. However, as you move forward developing national policies in this regard we would urge you to keep the delicate balance we have discussed today in the forefront so as not to have ‘‘unintended 

consequences’’ that develop from over-reaching federal regulations. 

Senator BOXER. Thank you, Ms. Huskins, for that message of 

unity, which we welcome in this committee. 

Mr. Watson, the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers. 

STATEMENT OF BRYANT M. WATSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 

VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF SNOW TRAVELERS, INC. 

Mr. WATSON. Madam Chairman, distinguished members of this 

committee, it is a great honor and pleasure to be here today. I do 

represent the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, more com-
72 

monly referred to as VAST. The Vermont Association of Snow 

Travelers was established in 1967, therefore we are in our 40th 

year, 40 years old. We are very proud of that. We have grown from 

a single club in 1967 to 140 clubs today. 

In 1970, the State of Vermont started operating what they called 

the Statewide Snowmobile Trails Program, or SSTP. They operated 

this program through 1977. Then in 1977, they decided that they 

didn’t want to be in the snowmobile trail business, and put out an 

RFP for businesses and/or organizations to respond to and come up 

with a proposal to operate the Statewide Snowmobile Trails Program for them. VAST did this, and in 1977 we took over the responsibility for the Statewide Snowmobile Trails System in 

Vermont. 

At that time, there was a total of 77 miles of snowmobile trails 

in the State of Vermont. Today, we have 4,750 miles of groomed 

corridor trails, and in what we classify as secondary trails, we have 

an additional 2,500 miles of trails. These trails run from the Massachusetts border in the south to the Canadian border in the north, 

and from the New Hampshire border in the east to the New York 

border in the west, and everywhere in between. We are the only 

true statewide snowmobile trail system in that regard. 

Vermont is a Mecca for outdoor recreation, especially winter 

recreation—downhill skiing, cross country skiing, dogsledding, ice 

fishing, hunting, and of course, my favorite sport, snowmobiling. 

Snowmobiling, in Vermont, is a way of life, and as many as 46,000 

participants snowmobile on an annual basis and take advantage of 

our trail system. 

As many as 20,000 of those who recreate in Vermont are nonresidents. They come to us from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New 

York, Maine, and many of the States throughout the area. These 

people not only bring with them lots of money when they come to 

Vermont to visit, but a lot of them buy second homes, and a lot of 

them buy homes and become residents of the State of Vermont and 

run their businesses from them, because of the quality of life that 

we provide within the State of Vermont. 

These snowmobilers, up to 46,000 of them, based on a 2001 economic impact study that we completed, provide a $500 million a 

year economic impact for the State of Vermont. Recreation in general brings in $2.5 billion to the State of Vermont’s economy on an 

annual basis. 

I fear for that impact on winter recreation. The winters of late 

have come very late. We normally would see snow in December, 

espeically in early January and throughout January, which normally would be our coldest month. That has not taken place in the 

last half decade. We are seeing more and more rain in December, 

rain in January, very warm temperatures, and then in February 

we get our very cold weather. So when you look at the winter recreation time period, basically 4 months, December, January, February and March, we are cutting that time period in half when we 

can bring in this $2.5 billion for recreation. 

It is a very serious problem. Because of that, a lot of people are 

not continuing to snowmobile. They are saying, well, it is really not 

worth it this year, so I am not going to register my snowmobile. 

I am not going to buy my trail pass. I am not going to go out there 
73 

because I only have a couple of weeks or 6 weeks at the most to 

be able to enjoy the sport. 

It is not only Vermont where we see this happening. 

Snowmobiling is a $21 billion a year industry across the United 

States. We see this happening in Minnesota. We see it happening 

in Wisconsin and Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, 

any of the States that have snowmobile trail systems. They are seeing the same types of winter events. 

We are also finding that the events that we have over the last 

couple of years, especially in February. These February snowstorms 

have had have been large Nor’easters. They have come in and they 

have dumped a lot of snow, but they have also done a lot of damage, that has created millions of dollars of damage, especially to 

forest lands. It has decimated a lot of our softwood forests and 

maple forests in the State of Vermont. 

So there are in fact economic impacts created by climate change. 

Job losses, dealerships with the State of Vermont are giving up 

their dealerships because of falling sales. The sales are down because of the short winters. People are not buying the new snowmobiles. The mom and pop stores, the hotels, the motels, the restaurants and many more, especially in the Northeast Kingdom of 

Vermont, where snowmobiling is the only form of winter recreation 

that brings in millions of dollars a year to those businesses in the 

northeast. 

So we really need to look at climate change. I commend Senator 

Sanders and those of you who have signed on and introduced S. 

309. This bill amends the existing Clean Air Act and would establish new benchmarks to help control the effects of global warming. 

Our Nation needs to become energy self-sufficient. We must immediately start working toward that goal and give incentives to those 

who would develop clean energy supplies, such as E–85 ethanol, 

biodiesel, hydrogen fuel cell technology, solar, wind, tidal current 

energy, renewable wood energy, and for my part, after spending 7 

years of my life as the manager of Member Services for Vermont 

Electric Cooperative, I believe we need to pursue nuclear energy as 

well. 

If the United States does not have an energy supply that is 

cheap, plentiful and clean, we will continue to lose industry and 

jobs to countries that have an abundant supply of energy to fuel 

their commerce and industry. 

Thank you. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Watson follows:] 

STATEMENT OF BRYANT M. WATSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VERMONT ASSOCIATION

OF SNOW TRAVELERS, INC. 

Good morning Senators, my name is Bryant Watson and I am the Executive Director of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc. (VAST), located in Berlin, 

Vermont. It is indeed a pleasure, privilege, and honor to come before you today to 

address the issue of ‘‘Climate Change and its Impact on Recreation.’’ 

Vermont is a Mecca for winter recreation: downhill skiing; cross country skiing; 

dog sledding; ice fishing; hunting and of course I can’t forget my favorite recreation, 

snowmobiling. 

There are 24 states, throughout the United States, that operate snowmobile trail 

programs. VAST is very unique; it is the only private not-for-profit organization, in 

the United States that is charged with the development, management, and maintenance of its state snowmobile trail system. In the remaining 23 states, state agen-
74 

cies are responsible for the development and maintenance of their snowmobile trail 

programs. 

VAST was established in November of 1967. We will celebrate our 40th anniversary this fall. In 1977 VAST entered into a cooperative agreement with the Vermont 

Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. This 

agreement transferred responsibility for Vermont’s Statewide Snowmobile Trail Program (SSTP) to VAST. At the time the agreement was signed there were only 77- 

miles of snowmobile trails that were classified as a part of the Statewide Snowmobile Trail System (SSTS). Today, the SSTS consists of more than 4,750-miles of 

groomed corridor snowmobile trails. Local clubs and contractors groom and maintain 

these trails under contract on behalf of VAST. An additional 2,500-miles of secondary snowmobile trails exist, and local snowmobile clubs maintain these trails. 

This system of snowmobile trails allows Vermont snowmobilers to snowmobile from 

the Massachusetts border in the south to the Canadian border in the north. It also 

allows them to snowmobile from the New Hampshire border in the east, to the New 

York border in the west. This makes the Vermont SSTS the only true statewide 

snowmobile trail system in the nation. 

Snowmobiling is a way of life in Vermont. Each year as many as 46,000 individuals take to the snowmobile trail system in Vermont. Many of these snowmobilers 

come to Vermont from other states and countries, and some years as many as 

20,000. They not only spend great amounts of money while they are in Vermont, 

but many of them buy second homes and/or move their formal residence to Vermont 

due to snowmobiling and Vermont’s quality of life. 

The latest economic impact study, conducted in 2001, indicates that snowmobiling 

contributes more than $500,000,000 annually to Vermont’s economy, second only to 

downhill skiing in the category of winter recreation. Vermont is a very small state 

and it relies on recreation and tourism to fuel a major portion of its economic engine. Recreation as a whole contributes more than $2,500,000,000 to Vermont’s 

economy, annually. However, the time frame in which these funds can be generated 

is very short; especially, the time frame for winter recreation. 

The legal snowmobile season in Vermont starts on December 16 and the official 

ending date is April 15. In 4 short months, VAST generates more than $500,000,000 

for Vermont’s economy. In recent years this has become a great challenge. Winter 

has not arrived in Vermont at its normal time! When we should be seeing lots of 

snow and temperatures well below freezing, we have seen rain and temperatures 

above freezing. It takes plenty of snow and cold weather to enable the opening of 

Vermont’s SSTS and the ski trails at Vermont’s ski areas, that offer superb downhill 

skiing to tens of thousands of visitors each year. Much of the income generated from 

snowmobiling and downhill skiing is created during holiday periods. Christmas and 

New Years are very important, as are the weeks surrounding Martin Luther King, 

Jr.’s birth date; President’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day; Easter is a bonus for both 

forms of recreation. We must be able to offer snowmobiling and downhill skiing during the above periods. If we cannot, the season is normally lost and the state’s economy feels the pinch. 

This past winter is a perfect example. December and the first half of January 

were well above normal, both in temperature as well as precipitation in the form 

of rain. The second half of January was cold, but we did not have much or any natural snow in most locations in Vermont. The first part of February delivered normal 

temperatures, but not much snow. Then came the ‘‘Valentine’s Day Blizzard!’’ It delivered more than 36-inches of snow statewide and finally allowed for all of the 

SSTS to open. Prior to that time, only ten percent of the SSTS had been open. Then 

came another blizzard on St. Patrick’s Day; this storm left more than 24-inches of 

snow over most of Vermont. The day before the close of the season, April 14, much 

of the state got more than 18-inches of wet, heavy snow. 

An observation that I have made is that winter storms now seem to come later 

in the season and they are much more intense than in the past. Several of this 

year’s storms were strong Nor-easters and created losses for many private and public landowners, hundreds of acres of forestland were devastated by the heavy snow 

and strong northeast winds, causing millions of dollars of damage. 

Based on the above, both the snowmobile industry and the downhill ski industry 

missed the first half of winter and have suffered significant financial losses. VAST 

must generate between four and five million dollars in revenue in order to have a 

successful snowmobile season. The majority of income supporting the SSTS is derived from the sale of trail passes. These trail passes are similar to season or day 

ski passes that are purchased and allow the buyer to use downhill ski areas. The 

VAST trail pass enables Vermont snowmobilers to legally ride Vermont’s SSTS. The 

sale of trail passes were down nearly 40 percent this last winter. This leaves VAST 
75 

with a huge dilemma, how do we cope with the changing climate and survive for 

the future? 

One way that VAST is currently pursuing the future is with the development and 

management of four-season recreational trails; this is being accomplished with the 

assistance of Senator Sanders and the United States Congress. VAST is in the process of converting an old abandoned 96-mile long rail bed into a four-season recreational trail. Senator Sanders was instrumental in working with VAST and Congress to obtain a federal high priority grant for this project. VAST has been designated, by the Vermont Legislature, as the Developer and Manager of this project. 

We have signed a long-term lease with the Vermont Agency of Transportation for 

the use of this state owned treasure. The trail, when completed, will become one 

of the longest rail trails in the nation and it will span the width of Vermont, starting in the east near the Connecticut River in St. Johnsbury and ending in Swanton 

to the west, at Lake Champlain. Currently, we are developing the final plans that 

will allow this dream to become a reality. Once completed, the trail will draw thousands annually to Vermont, throughout the four seasons; the trail will enable them 

to enjoy the majestic, pastoral beauty that is Vermont. 

Thank you for this opportunity. 

Senator BOXER. Thank you very much, sir. 

Our next speak is Derrick Crandall, president of the American 

Recreation Coalition. Welcome, sir. 

STATEMENT OF DERRICK A. CRANDALL, PRESIDENT, 

AMERICAN RECREATION COALITION 

Mr. CRANDALL. Thank you, Madam Chairman. I have to say that 

the members of this committee have made my job very easy. The 

first four pages of my testimony said less well than you said the 

importance of recreation in America today. I certainly relate to 

each one of the members here. As a member of a family that was 

rooted in Ashaway, RI, that took Zane Grey out fishing with line 

and twine years ago, as a brother-in-law of the person that runs 

Greenland Geographics and does a lot of remote sensing, and as 

the husband of a graduate of UVM, and as somebody born in New 

Jersey and spent a lot of time enjoying the outdoors of New Jersey, 

I am delighted to hear the testimony that you have given to the 

importance of recreation in America. 

I would like to simply say that recreationists have been at the 

vanguard of environmental protection for generations. In fact, during my days up in New Hampshire with acid rain in the 1960s and 

1970s, the recreation community took the lead in talking about the 

impact on the forests, on the fishing, and the other kinds of things, 

and helped to bring about a recognition of the importance of limiting the emissions of Midwest and other electrical generation centers that were causing a decline in the fisheries of the Nation. 

It is for that reason that the recreation community can and 

should continue to be a leader in responding to the challenges that 

you are now addressing with global climate change. 

There certainly are scientific reasons to argue about what the 

specifics are, but the urgency of acting is certainly clear. There is 

no reason to delay until all the facts are there. I am proud to say 

that the recreation industry continues to be a leader. 

I would like to simply outline a couple of the things that are 

being done. One of the areas that we are especially proud of is 

within the national parks of this Nation, an especially important 

area. Concessioners like Xanterra are leading the way with an ability to keep out of the trash area 5 million pounds every year 

through recycling and reuse, through even taking the grease from 
76 

the restaurants and recycling that into biodiesel and using that in 

buses, and finding alternative ways to move people within our 

parks, tremendous successes. 

That is not the only example. Concessioners are leading the way. 

In fact, fixed recreation sites are asking today: can we, should we, 

and will we do more? The answer is absolutely yes. We need to find 

those ways. We need to find the right solutions, and the recreation 

industry intends to be a leader in all this. 

I would also like to compliment, and I know we have somebody 

here who knows a lot about the X–Games. I just want to talk about 

the importance of what the Walt Disney Company has done. Of 

course, Walt Disney owns ESPN, and through the 

Environmentality Program has brought a revolutionary new kind 

of perspective to look at how the impact of the X–Games can be 

modified through use of green power and a variety of other kinds 

of ways. They are still fun. They are still great, but in fact now the 

environmental impact of the X–Games has been modified directly. 

So I come to you today with both a message of hope and opportunity, and also just some concerns that we need to express. Betty 

Huskins mentioned the work of Richard Louv, the author of ‘‘Last 

Child in the Woods.’’ He has been here in Washington on Monday 

and Tuesday. I am sorry that the Senator from Minnesota isn’t 

here. I was with her colleague, the wonderful gentleman who represents the Eighth District of Minnesota, Jim Oberstar, the leader 

of our Scenic Byways Program. 

Incidentally, I would like to compliment this committee. You 

have been leaders in the National Scenic Byways Program, and in 

fact you are helping because by slowing down the travels in this 

Nation, the travels are more efficient. A car moving at 40 to 50 

miles an hour on a scenic byway, you see more, but you are also 

getting more miles to the gallon, and that contributes in its own 

way. 

But I guess the point is that Richard Louv was addressing the 

scenic byways community up in Baltimore, and then came down 

and was paired with an announcement of More Kids in the Woods, 

a grant program that the Forest Service has just kicked off. He 

talks about bookend issues, global climate change, and the decrease 

in outdoor participation by America’s youth. Both are issues we 

need to take action on immediately. 

The fact of the matter is that America’s youth need to know intimately the kinds of experiences that we have shared in the outdoors to have a passionate commitment to environmental protection. I think we can and we should be doing that. 

As we turn to where we can go in terms of responding to greenhouse gas emissions, there are two areas. The first is fixed sites 

where people go to recreate. About 75 percent of recreation occurs 

at and along the Nation’s largest waters—our ocean fronts, the 

major lakes, the major rivers. Those areas need to be leaders in 

terms of demonstrating commitments to both innovative ways to 

reduce consumption of energy and other kinds of things, and also 

looking to ensure continued emphasis on clean water. 

We are also looking at other ways that we can assist. Throughout 

this country, from major metropolitan areas from Washington to 

Denver to other areas, we see an exodus of people towing recre-
77 

ation items, whether those are snowmobiles or RVs or boats every 

weekend. We are working now with the Federal land managers to 

look at if we can’t find better ways to store those recreational items 

closer to where people use them, and reduce the unnecessary use 

of energy as those vehicles are towed back and forth from where 

you live to where you play. We can do more in that. 

We also believe that there is an opportunity to look at alternative 

ways to access our national parks and national forests. Very few 

areas of this country are served well by public transportation to be 

able to access that. 

However, we do want to make sure that in our needed actions 

to address global climate change, that we don’t kill the goose that 

lays the golden egg. We don’t want to discourage healthy, active 

lives and the travel to see special places like national parks that 

unify all Americans and create those marvelous family memories. 

We need to remember that any fuel efficient SUV or even a 

motorhome gets more passenger miles per gallon than even the 

most efficient car with a solo driver. We need to not discourage the 

use of vehicles that are essential to towing and hauling the recreational products that are essential to active lifestyles. 

Thank you very much. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Crandall follows:] 

STATEMENT OF DERRICK A. CRANDALL, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN RECREATION COALITION

Madame Chair and Distinguished Members, the American Recreation Coalition 

(ARC) appreciates the opportunity to appear before this body today to discuss an 

extraordinarily important issue: the potential consequences of global climate change 

on recreation and the recreation industry. 

I am Derrick Crandall and I am appearing on behalf of the members of the American Recreation Coalition (ARC)—more than 100 national organizations, representing virtually every segment of the nation’s $400 billion outdoor recreation industry, and tens of millions of outdoor recreation enthusiasts. 

Our organization has played an active role in federal recreation policy since its 

creation in 1979. We were centrally involved in the creation and operations of the 

President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors in the mid-1980’s and the National 

Recreation Lakes Study Commission, which submitted its report in 1999 to the Congress and the President. Both spoke directly to the topic before this body today. We 

also were actively involved in the creation of the National Recreation Fee Demonstration Program and have enjoyed opportunities to work closely with this committee on such diverse programs as the National Scenic Byways Program, the Recreational Trails Program, the Wallop-Breaux program aiding fishing and boating, 

and programs to provide access to and safe transit across our public lands. We 

thank the Chairman and members of this body for the continuing interest shown 

in these important issues. 

Outdoor recreation is a vital and positive force in our nation today. Nine in ten 

Americans participate in outdoor recreation today, and a major catalyst for this involvement is the marvelous shared legacy of our Great Outdoors—one in three acres 

of the surface of the nation managed by federal agencies and hosting well in excess 

of a billion recreation visits annually. ARC monitors participation in outdoor recreation closely through annual national surveys. A summary sheet on participation is 

attached. 

The benefits accruing from recreation participation are significant, and the appreciation for these benefits is growing. The economic significance of outdoor recreation 

is obvious in communities across the nation, and especially those communities proximate to federally-managed lands and waters. From boat dealers to campground operators, from RV manufacturers to ski rental shops, from retailers selling outdoors 

goods to guides and outfitters, tens of thousands of businesses and millions of Americans are supported by $400 billion in annual expenditures on recreation by American families. And increasingly, America’s recreational opportunities are a key factor 

in luring international visitors to enjoy the world’s best systems of parks and forests, refuges and other public sites. It is especially noteworthy that two major seg-
78 

ments of the recreation industry—RV and recreational boats—are solid US manufacturing businesses employing tens of thousands of skilled workers. 

But the public recognizes that recreation contributes far more significantly to our 

nation in ways beyond jobs. Recreation is understood as a valuable means to encourage the physical activity we need to maintain our health. With two in three Americans failing to get the minimum level of physical activity recommended by the Surgeon General—just 30 minutes daily of moderate movement like walking—and obesity now responsible for medical costs greater than those linked to tobacco, opportunities to combine exercise with fun are an obvious priority. Studies now document 

that increasing recreation participation can be among the most cost effective strategies for reducing public health costs. 

And the benefits arising from recreation don’t stop there. Recreation can be a very 

effective means for increasing parent-child communications as well as a tool to deter 

violent crime and substance abuse. Outdoor settings and recreational activities have 

proven valuable as alternative educational programs, especially for disruptive youth 

and those with learning styles poorly suited to traditional classrooms. Earlier this 

week, a California author and journalist, Richard Louv, was in town to speak to two 

very important audiences: the National Scenic Byways Conference and a large gathering at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Louv’s book, Last Child in the Woods, 

has added to our lexicon with a new term: Nature Deficit Disorder. And he presents 

credible evidence that nature-robbed kids are much more prone to Attention Deficit 

Disorder and prescribed medicines like Ridalin with uncertain long-term consequences. Concerns expressed by Louv and others have motivated the recreation 

community to pursue strategies like the California Children’s Outdoor Bill of 

Rights—which expressed a commitment to helping all children splash in clean water 

and hike through healthy forests (details appended). 

RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

The recreation community has been a solid and active proponent of environmental 

protection for decades. Recreationists understandably care about waters that are too 

polluted to use for swimming and boating, and about national park vistas impaired 

by pollutants. This is why recreationists were leaders in arguing for action on acid 

rain in the 1960’s. It is why recreationists and the recreation industry today support 

education and communications programs championing responsible use of the outdoors—programs like Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly! It is why national park 

concessioners have an incredible track record of initiatives to serve park visitors 

well while operating in an environmentally-friendly way. 

One of the leading park concessioners is Xanterra. Xanterra uses renewable wind 

power and on-site large-scale renewable solar photovoltaic systems to reduce in-park 

air emissions and greenhouse gas emissions. Each year, Xanterra recycles, 

composts, and diverts from the local park landfill more than five million pounds of 

solid waste. Xanterra also recycles grease on-site into biodiesel for use in fleet vehicles and boilers, and uses hybrid vehicles, countless electric vehicles, and numerous 

alternative fuel vehicles throughout all of its operations. 

Other concessioners are making similar strides. Buses now help visitors enjoy Yosemite Valley without reliance on personal vehicles—and the buses are powered by 

alternative fuels to reduce emissions. Boat fleets rented at Lake Mead by Forever 

Resorts use new-technology engines, again dramatically reducing emissions. 

Other recreation companies are taking initiatives, as well. The Walt Disney Company has adopted a far-ranging strategy labeled Eco-Action Through Action Sports. 

Key to the effort is the X Games Environmentality’’ (XGE) Mission. Disney has committed its ESPN X Games to environmental stewardship in all facets of event planning, from waste reduction to recycling, from use of environmentally friendly products to use of renewable resources and reducing emissions through ‘‘green power’’ 

use at the X Games events. It further uses the ESPN X Games to encourage employees and spectators alike to proactively support its Environmentality creed. 

RECREATION AND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

The recreation community is concerned about the potential of global climate 

change on recreation opportunities. Fears of an inability to provide skiers with 

snow, or the danger of coastal erosion and more violent weather in areas which 

draw large numbers of Americans for recreation—75 percent of all recreation occurs 

at or near the shores of our oceans, large lakes and major rivers—clearly concern 

us. And for that reason, the recreation industry seeks to be a vital part of public 

policy discussions and action on global climate change. 

Can, should and is the recreation community taking actions to reduce greenhouse 

gas emissions linked to recreation: the answer to all three questions is YES. And 
79 

we feel that together, government, industry and individuals can achieve important 

goals that are good for the environment—and make economic sense, too. 

Our efforts are in two fields. The first is at recreation sites. We know that there 

are practical steps that can and should be taken to reduce our environmental impact. We also know that the small business nature of the recreation industry makes 

and active technical assistance initiative by the Environmental Protection Agency, 

by the U.S. Department of energy and others vital to assist recreation businesses 

identify and adopt best practices. 

The second issue is transportation-related actions. Mobility is one of the core 

underpinnings of recreation choices in America. Few of us live where we choose to 

play. And all of us benefit from the ability to travel from the regions in which we 

live to see and experience the priceless legacy of the outdoors—the one-third of the 

nation belonging to every American and managed by agencies including the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau fo Land Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—special places 

that draw more than a billion visits annually. We strongly encourage public policies 

that continue and enhance the connection of the public to these places. That is why 

we support enthusiastically the National Park Service Centennial Initiative. Visits 

to these places yields mental and physical health benefits, memories which bond 

families and friends and unify us as Americans. 

It is for that reason that we call upon the Congress to insure that actions to respond to global climate concerns do not serve to imprison Americans indoors. 

It is important to understand that actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions 

and promote mobility can be undertaken. In fact, we applaud this committee for its 

role in creating and nurturing the National Scenic Byways Program. Byways deliver 

great benefits to the public by slowing travelers down and making trails and fishing 

spots more accessible and more findable. Just the very fact that travel on byways 

is typically at 40 to 50 miles per hour is a contribution to emissions reduction, since 

it increases the efficiency of cars, SUVs and trucks markedly over that attained 

when traveling at Interstate speeds—or worse yet, in congested traffic on Interstates. 

Concerns about greenhouse gas emissions has also spurred the recreation community to open a dialogue with federal recreation site managers, gateway communities 

and others about ways to reduce consumption of motor fuels in another important 

way. Millions of Americans tow or carry large recreational items from home to recreation site—often every week. This movement reduces vehicle efficiency significantly. 

We are seeking to protect the ability of Americans to camp, to boat, to use off-highway vehicles—but to leave these units nearby actual places of use. This could have 

a dramatic benefit on fuel efficiency and safety—and actually save American families money. 

We also favor alternative transportation to personal vehicles for access to recreation sites. There are a handful of national parks and national forests that facilitate 

movement from urban residential areas to public recreation sites, including the 

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area near Los Angeles and the 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest near Salt Lake City. We need efforts to make such 

access much more common. 

We also ask help in overcoming an increasingly common complaint from 

recreationists: that easy access to free tire inflation stations has declined precipitously, despite that fact that properly inflated tires have been demonstrated repeatedly to be the easiest and most economic way to increase vehicle fleet efficiency. 

In closing, we ask the Congress to be wary of the danger of actions that would 

discourage healthy active lives and travel to see special places like national parks. 

The reality is that a reasonably fuel-efficient SUV—or even a large motorhome— 

gets more passenger miles per gallon when occupied by a family than does even the 

most fuel efficient car available today when occupied solely by a driver. And the 

benefits to the nation are large. We know that towing and carrying capacity are key 

ingredients for purchases of vehicles by many American families, and we ask your 

help in protecting the ability of Americans to purchase vehicles that meet these 

needs. 

Thank you for attention to this important issue. 
80 
81 
82 

Senator BOXER. Thank you, sir, very much. Very good words. I 

think what has really been interesting about this hearing is, I don’t 

know if people realize the majority invites and the minority invites. 

I think you are all speaking with one voice, which is really great 

for our committee. We need that to happen more often, I think. 

Mr. Berry, we welcome you. Just to remind everyone, you are 

from the National Ski Areas Association. 

STATEMENT OF MICHAEL BERRY, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL SKI 

AREAS ASSOCIATION 

Mr. BERRY. Absolutely. Thank you, Chairman Boxer. Thank you, 

Senators. Thank you for this opportunity to testify on behalf of the 

326 member ski areas of the National Ski Areas Association. Ski 

areas across the country are concerned about the issue of global 

warming and its potential impacts on winter recreation, mountain 

ecosystems, our livelihoods and our way of life. 

I cannot think of a sector that will be more directly and profoundly impacted by climate change than the ski business. We in 

fact are the canary in the cage. As you have heard today, you have 

referenced time and time again the issue of the ski industry. 

The success of our operations depends on the weather. We are a 

weather-dependent industry. For this reason, we have made tremendous efforts to raise awareness on the issue of global warming 

and put solutions in place to solve it. 

In 2002, the National Ski Areas Association adopted a climate 

change policy. Our climate change policy was cutting edge in 2002 

and unprecedented among businesses in the recreation industry. In 

summary, our climate change policy adopts a reduce, educate and 

advocate approach to fighting global warming. The policy calls for 

ski resorts around the country to reduce their own greenhouse gas 

emissions, educate our guests and the public about the potential 

threat of climate change in winter recreation, and advocate the 

need for policymakers to act now and act aggressively in curbing 

emissions. 

Ski areas have taken tremendous steps to reduce our own greenhouse gas emissions. There are now 59 resorts in the United States 

purchasing renewable energy credits, or green energy, for their facilities and lifts. Of these 59 resorts, 28 are 100 percent green powered. The green power purchase of these 28 resorts results in 

avoidance of over 427 million pounds of CO2. 

Additionally, resorts are providing their customers with opportunities to purchase green tags to offset their carbon impacts when 

traveling to and from the resorts, or in fact to sign up for green 

energy in their homes. Resorts are also generating renewable energy onsite through micro-hydro projects and solar projects, and 

the first wind turbine will go online at a ski area in August 2007 

at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Massachusetts. 

Resorts are also using green building techniques, retrofitting existing facilities to save energy, using alternative fuels such as biodiesel in resort vehicle fleets and providing and promoting car pooling or mass transit use by guests and employees. 

As an industry, we are a relatively small source of greenhouse 

gas emissions. However, we recognize that we will need to help 

other industries to help turn this issue around. Ski areas have edu-
83 

cated their guests and the public on the issue of global warming 

through an outreach campaign called Keep Winter Cool. NSAA’s 

partners in the Keep Winter Cool campaign are the Natural Resources Defense Council and Clif Bar. Together, we have reached 

out to millions of people who ski and snowboard to make changes 

in their lives to fight climate change. 

We have enlisted famous athletes like Picabo Street and Shaun 

White to help us inspire snow sports participants to take action 

now to fight global warming. I invite the members of the committee 

to visit our Website, www.keepwintercool.org for more detailed information. 

Ski areas have advocated swift action on the part of policymakers to address the issue of climate change, both at the Federal 

and State level. During the 109th Congress, 71 ski areas in 21 

States endorsed the McCain–Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act. 

During the 110th Congress, 35 resorts so far have endorsed the 

US–CAP approach to fighting global warming. Ski areas have also 

supported the adoption of renewable portfolio standards and cleaner fuels and cleaner vehicle emission requirements in a number of 

States. 

Ski areas are aware of the many studies and models that project 

the impact of global warming on snowpack. As an industry, we 

have tracked the average number of days that our member resorts 

are open across five regions in the country. Over a 16-year period, 

our data shows a declining trend in the number of days open nationally and in several regions as well. More specifically, the data 

shows a decline of over one day nationally per season over the past 

16 years, and a decline of 1.2 days in the Northeastern part of the 

United States. 

As you are also aware, there have been four recently published 

reports that specifically predict the economic harm to the American 

ski industry as a result of climate change. Two were authored in 

mountain communities in the western United States: Climate 

Change in Aspen: An Assessment of Impacts and Potential Responses by the Aspen Global Change Institute; and Save Our 

Snow: Climate Change in Park City by the Stratus Consulting 

Group. 

There are plenty of good reasons for ski resorts to be concerned 

about climate change and its potential impact on winter recreation. 

If as scientific models suggest, warming continues, we will experience a decreased snowpack, warmer nights, shorter seasons, and 

all of these changes could profoundly affect our industry. Fewer operating days would obviously impact our bottom line. Warmer 

nights would impact our ability to make snow, and snow making 

has become the norm in the industry with over 88 percent of our 

members making snow. 

For snow sports, the ski and snowboard industry in the United 

States at the resort level is a $5 billion industry. It employs 

165,000 people. When you add in development, the equipment and 

apparel side of the industry, and all of the other businesses that 

rely on winter tourism, we have a significant and profound impact 

on the economy where we exist. In fact, we are particularly crucial 

in the rural economies across the country. 
84 

There are ski areas in 37 States. Fifteen members of the committee have ski areas in their States, including the great State of 

Rhode Island. The ski industry views climate change as a longterm problem. However, we need to act now to solve this problem. 

While we have significant concerns over the potential impact of climate change on our operations, we are also optimistic about the future. We believe in technology. We know that solutions exist to address this problem, and trust that policymakers will act decisively 

in putting those solutions in place. 

The only other alternative we can ask is that Congress move 

Christmas to February, and since we know that that won’t happen, 

we respectfully request swift and aggressive measures to address 

this important issue. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Berry follows:] 

STATEMENT OF MICHAEL BERRY, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION

Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on behalf of the 326-member ski 

areas of the National Ski Areas Association. Ski areas across the country are concerned about the issue of global warming and its potential impacts on winter recreation, mountain ecosystems, our bottom line and our way of life. I cannot think of 

a business that will be more directly and profoundly impacted by global warming 

than the ski business. The success of our operations depends on the weather. For 

this reason, we have made tremendous efforts to raise awareness of the issue of 

global warming and put solutions in place to solve it. 

2002 CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY

In 2002, the National Ski Areas Association adopted a climate change policy. At 

that time, climate change was the elephant under the carpet that needed to be addressed and addressed directly. Our climate change policy was cutting edge in 2002 

and unprecedented among businesses in the recreation industry. In summary, our 

climate change policy adopts a ‘‘REDUCE, EDUCATE, ADVOCATE’’ approach to 

fighting global warming. The policy calls for ski resorts to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), educate our guests and the public about the potential 

threat of climate change to winter recreation, and advocate the need for policy makers to act now and act aggressively in curbing GHG emissions. 

Ski areas have taken tremendous steps to reduce our own GHG emissions. There 

are now fifty-nine (59) resorts purchasing renewable energy credits or green energy 

for their facilities and lifts. Of these 59 resorts, 28 are 100 percent green powered. 

The green power purchases of these 28 resorts result in the avoidance of 

427,596,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2). This is the equivalent of planting nearly 17 million trees or avoiding more than 169,000 round-trip flights between New 

York and San Francisco. Additionally, resorts are providing their customers the opportunity to purchase ‘‘green tags’’ to offset their emissions and ‘‘ski pollution free’’ 

or sign up for green energy in their homes. Resorts are also generating renewable 

energy on site through micro-hydro and solar projects, and the first wind turbine 

will go on line at a ski area in August of 2007 at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort 

in Massachusetts. Resorts are also using green building techniques, retrofitting existing facilities to save energy, using alternative fuels such as biodiesel in resort vehicle fleets, and providing or promoting car pooling or mass transit use by guests 

and employees. We are a relatively small source of greenhouse gas emissions, however, and recognize that we will need the help of other industries to turn this problem around. 

Ski areas have educated their guests and the public on the issue of global warming through an outreach campaign called ‘‘Keep Winter Cool.’’ NSAA’s partners in 

the Keep Winter Cool campaign are the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) 

and Clif Bar, the energy bar maker in California. Together, we have reached out 

to millions of people who ski and snowboard to make changes in their lives to fight 

global warming. We have enlisted famous athletes like Picabo Street from the great 

State of Idaho and Shaun White from the great State of California to help us inspire 

snowsports participants to take action now to fight global warming. I invite the 

members of the Committee to visit our website, www.keepwintercool.org for more information. 
85 

Ski areas have advocated swift action on the part of policymakers to address the 

issue of climate change, both that the federal and state level. During the 109th Congress, 71 ski areas in 21 states endorsed the McCain/Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act. During the 110th Congress, thirty resorts have endorsed the US-CAP approach to fighting global warming. Ski areas have also supported the adoption of 

renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and cleaner fuels and cleaner vehicle emissions 

requirements in a number of states. 

SCIENCE AND DATA

Ski areas are aware of the many studies and models that project the impact of 

global warming on snowpack. As an industry, we have tracked the average number 

of days that our member resorts are open across five regions of the country. Over 

a 16-year period, our data shows a declining trend in the number of days open nationally and in several regions. More specifically, the data shows a decline of 0.8 

days nationally per season over the past 16 years; a decline of 1.2 days per season 

in the Northeast; and a decline of 0.7 days in the Rocky Mountains. One hundred 

and thirty-four (134) of our member ski areas operate on U.S. Forest Service land. 

These resorts have witnessed declining recreation budgets and increased spending 

on forest fires in the past 10 years. Former U.S. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth 

stated upon retiring from the agency earlier this year that climate change is ‘‘undeniable’’ and that it has ‘‘huge social, economic and ecological implications.’’ 

We are also aware of four recently published reports that specifically predict economic harm to the American ski industry as a result of climate change. They are: 

Less Snow, Less Water: Climate Disruption in the West, by Stephen Saunders and 

Maureen Maxwell of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization; Climate Change: 

Modeling a Warmer Rockies and Assessing the Implications, by Gregory Zimmerman, Caitlin O’Brady, and Bryan Hurlbutt of Colorado College; Climate Change and 

Aspen: An Assessment of Impacts and Potential Responses, by the Aspen Global 

Change Institute; and Save Our Snow: Climate Change in Park City by Stratus 

Consulting Group. 

OPERATIONAL IMPACTS

There are plenty of good reasons for ski resorts to be concerned about climate 

change and its potential impacts on winter recreation. Scientific models suggest that 

as warming continues, we could experience decreased snowpack, warmer nights, and 

shorter seasons. All of these changes could profoundly affect our industry. Fewer operating days would obviously impact our bottom line. Warmer nights would impact 

our ability to make snow. Snowmaking has become the norm in our industry. 

Eighty-eight (88) percent of our members make snow. We start making snow in October to meet pent up demand for early season skiing and snowboarding. It is crucial that we have sufficient snow cover for the holidays, as they account for 30 percent of our revenues. This season, it was impossible for many resorts to make snow 

due to warmer temperatures at night—even in December and January. Warmer 

nights also significantly drive up the costs associated with snowmaking. Finally, 

spring rain can wash away our base at a critical time of year for skiing and 

snowboarding and shorten our season. 

ECONOMIC IMPACTS

The mountain resort industry is a $5 billion industry that employs 165,000 people. When you add in real estate, the equipment and apparel side of the industry, 

and all of the other businesses that rely on winter tourism to stay afloat, we have 

profound economic impacts. The ski industry’s economic health is particularly crucial for a number of rural economies across the country. There are ski areas in 34 

states. Fifteen members of this Committee have ski areas in their states. 

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

The ski industry views climate change as a long-term problem. However, we need 

to act now to solve this problem and turn things around. While we have significant 

concerns over the potential impact of climate change on our operations, we are also 

optimistic about the future. We believe in technology. We know that solutions exist 

to address this problem, and trust that policymakers will act quickly and decisively 

in putting solutions in place. The only other alternative for us is to ask Congress 

to move Christmas to February. Knowing that will never happen, we respectfully 

request swift and aggressive measures to address this important issue. 

Thank you for your consideration of these remarks and the opportunity to address 

the committee today. 
86 

Senator BOXER. Well, that said it all, didn’t it, Mr. Berry? 

Our final speaker to testify is Barry McCahill, president of the 

SUV Owners of America. 

STATEMENT OF BARRY W. MCCAHILL, PRESIDENT, SUV 

OWNERS OF AMERICA 

Mr. MCCAHILL. Thank you, Chairman Boxer and Senators. 

Thank you for including us. 

SUVOA is an independent, nonprofit organization looking out for 

the needs not only of those who enjoy the great outdoors, but also 

those who need the power and utility of full-sized vehicles that 

they can use to haul, tow and carry more people. Our intent is not 

to market SUVs, and we are independent of the car companies. 

We are not a one-size-fits-all society. Light trucks fill an important economic and social niche. Those who own these vehicles are 

very concerned about the environment. They want improved fuel 

economy and less dependence on imported oil, as much if not more 

than many others. 

Most own them because they meet their family, business or lifestyle needs. They don’t buy them as a fashion statement. Many are 

also persuaded by the better crash performance of larger vehicles. 

Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, data 

SUVs are 5 to 7 percent safer than passenger cars. Senator Lautenberg has been very involved in highway safety. I worked at the 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for an entire career, and he has been a leader in highway safety so he knows what 

I am speaking about. 

Tens of millions also use their light trucks to tow camp trailers, 

snowmobiles, or boats. Last summer while camping, a reporter 

with a major news organization called me and asked if SUV owners 

should feel guilty about what he referred to as ‘‘gas guzzling vehicles’’ that some would say nobody needs. I looked around the campground and I saw lots of motorhomes, SUVs and pickups. Near 

them were families cooking breakfast over open fires, a father and 

son headed to the lake to fish. Some of the families included grandparents who were passing along an important tradition. 

What I saw is something I think we need more of in this country—families together outdoors, having fun, and creating memories. Importantly, they would not be doing so without vehicles that 

get them, their campers, and their gear to campsites. This lifestyle, 

along with boating, horse shows and many other forms of outdoor 

recreation could disappear if fuel economy mandates are pushed to 

the extreme, or become a luxury that only the wealthy could afford. 

Today, just 1 percent of cars have the capacity to tow a small 

trailer or fishing boat. Indeed, SUVs and minivans came on the 

scene as car substitutes because Americans demanded vehicles that 

could carry a family comfortably and safely and haul and tow for 

recreational purposes. Loss of towing capacity and reduced safety 

were never envisioned when the CAFE program was conceived in 

1976, but that is what happened. 

But its most strategic shortcoming is that it was conceived to reduce our reliance on foreign oil, and since we have more than doubled the percentage of our oil imports. So a fundamental question 
87 

is, are we willing to bet our strategic interests again solely on 

CAFE. 

The question is always raised, why can’t somebody make a light 

truck or SUV that gets 35 miles to the gallon. Gasoline has been 

$5 to $6 a gallon in Europe for years, and yet the fastest growing 

vehicle segment in Europe is SUVs. In the United States, we have 

had sustained high gas prices and light trucks are still selling 

strong. 

The marketplace is begging for an ultra-high mileage, full-size 

vehicle that meets the utility niche. Since market pressures have 

not already created such a vehicle, any legislation encouraging its 

arrival must anticipate any potential tradeoffs and explain them up 

front to the American people. 

We need to work innovatively to solve our strategic and environmental challenges in ways that hold more promise and preserve 

the varied transportation needs of the American people. Chairman 

Boxer, I commend you for your remarks last month at the National 

Press Club when you said cars and trucks must move toward green 

and renewable fuels such as environmentally clean biofuels. I 

would add clean diesel to that list. 

There is a ‘‘build it and they will come’’ energy opportunity in 

this country. SUV, pickup and RV owners would like to be able to 

burn alternative fuels that are more fuel efficient. The problem is 

lack of availability and no infrastructure to make these fuels viable 

economically. I urge this committee to be a catalyst for making infrastructure incentives and other consumer incentives a key part of 

the path forward. 

Historically, our Nation has accomplished great things when the 

times demanded it. Now is such a time. Decisions must be grounded in technical feasibility, shared responsibility, and respect for individual preferences, rather than a simple ‘‘nobody needs it’’ attitude. Lifestyle preferences that include outdoor recreation should 

be valued as traditions worth protecting. As Senator Sanders said, 

finally, we must get it right this time. There will be no second 

chance if policies of expediency are allowed to rule the day, and a 

decade from now the only results are way of life detriments and no 

environmental or energy security improvements. 

Ultimately, what we are talking about from a vehicle standpoint 

are the vehicles that our grandchildren will all be driving. We 

won’t be driving them, but our grandchildren probably will, so it 

is really, really important I think that we get it right and we work 

together collectively on a path forward. 

Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. McCahill follows:] 

STATEMENT OF BARRY W. MCCAHILL, PRESIDENT, SUV OWNERS OF AMERICA

Good morning, Chairman Boxer, Senator Inhofe and members of the Committee. 

Thank you for including the views of SUV, van, minivan and pickup truck owners 

in the hearing today. All of which are referred to and regulated as ‘‘light trucks.’’ 

SUVOA is an independent, non-profit organization looking out for the needs of not 

only those who enjoy the great outdoors, but also those who need the power and 

utility of full-size vehicles that can haul, tow and carry more people. Our purpose 

is not to market light trucks. Instead, we advocate for vehicle choice, and work to 

educate consumers honestly about such topics as safety, fuel economy, emissions 

and vehicle utility. 
88 

Personal transportation is a multi-faceted proposition. We are not a one-size-fitsall society and light trucks fill an important economic and social niche. Those who 

own these vehicles want improved fuel economy and less dependence on imported 

oil as much as anyone. Let me be clear. As an SUV owner who lives in a state 

where these vehicles are very popular, I can assure you that owners want better 

fuel economy. 

Most own them because they meet their family, business or lifestyle needs, and 

a smaller vehicle would force them to give up important attributes they need and 

value. Most do not buy them to make a fashion statement. 

After four decades of a federal emphasis on making safety a purchase priority, 

many also are persuaded by the better crash performance of larger vehicles. Based 

on 10 years of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 

(NHTSA) found that SUVs are 5–7 times safer than passenger cars. I have attached 

our study as Attachment A. 

Moreover, numerous experts have studied the effect of gas mileage standards that 

resulted in down-sized cars and light trucks and found that safety has suffered because smaller vehicles simply do not provide the same protection to their occupants 

that larger ones do. 

One group, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), tracks the safety 

of a variety of vehicles using NHTSA and insurance company claims data. IIHS 

data clearly show that since 1978, the overall rates of driver and occupant deaths 

per million registered vehicles have declined across the board. However, declines in 

death rates have been largest for SUV occupants, showing that larger vehicles are 

safer than smaller ones. A chart comparing fatal crash risk across vehicle groups 

can be found as Attachment B. 

Tens of millions also use their light trucks both as family transportation during 

the week and as the vehicle that tows a trailer or boat on weekends and vacations. 

Most people buy their vehicles for ‘‘peak use.’’ That is, if they need a vehicle to tow 

a boat or horse trailer, they buy a vehicle capable of doing that—and then use that 

vehicle for other transportation needs such as commuting and family errands. 

I am one of them. I hold a U.S. Coast Guard Master license and have owned boats 

all my life. I also own a motor home that my wife and I use for camping and to 

connect with our children, grandchildren and friends around the country. 

Last summer, while camping, a reporter with a major news organization called 

me. He wanted to know if SUV owners should feel guilty for owning what he referred to as ‘‘gas-guzzling vehicles that some would say nobody needs.’’ 

It was early morning and as I looked around the beautiful campground, Ponderosa State Park in McCall, Idaho, I saw lots of motor homes, SUVs and pickups. 

Near them were families cooking breakfast over open fires. A father and son headed 

to Payette Lake to fish. Some of the families included grandparents who were passing along an important tradition. 

What a profound disconnect from the question the reporter asked. I saw no guilt, 

nor should there be any. What I saw is what we need more of in this country—families together outdoors having fun and creating memories. 

Importantly, they would not be doing so without vehicles that can get them, their 

trailers’ fifth wheels and all their other gear to the campsites. This lifestyle, along 

with boating, horse shows and many other forms of outdoor recreation, could disappear if fuel economy mandates are pushed to the extreme—or at minimum a luxury that only the wealthy could continue to enjoy. 

As part of my formal statement, I am including a photograph of a restored 1951 

Ford sedan hitched to a camping trailer. Tom Nelson, an Idaho RV dealer, owns this 

rig and keeps it at his dealership as a reminder of the days back in the 1950s when 

RVing was just beginning. And cars could still tow a trailer. 

Today, just one percent of cars have the capacity to tow a small trailer or fishing 

boat. Why? Because of Federal fuel economy mandates. 

Indeed SUVs and minivans came on the scene as car substitutes because Americans demanded vehicles that could carry a family comfortably and safely, and haul 

and tow for recreational purposes after ever more stringent CAFE standards had 

regulated family station wagons off the market. Fortunately Congress was wise 

enough to recognize that light trucks do a lot more work than passenger cars and 

therefore should be subject to less stringent fuel economy standards. 

SUVOA recently compiled a towing guide to help consumers match 2007 tow vehicles to popular RVs, boats, and other recreational equipment that need to be towed. 

The guide also provides safety tips, illustrations and links to other towing-related 

Websites. In compiling the guide, we learned that there is a real need for consumer 

education about towing because many people today try to tow things that exceed 

motor vehicle and RV dealer recommendations for safe towing. 
89 

According to the RV Safety and Education Foundation, 49 percent of travel trailers are towed in excess of the vehicle’s recommended maximum capacity. Our 

SUVOA press release on lost towing capacity, containing a link to the towing guide 

on our Website is in Attachment C of my testimony. 

Loss of towing capacity was not envisioned when the Corporate Average Fuel 

Economy or CAFE program was conceived in 1976. But it happened because in the 

rush to ‘‘do something’’ about oil dependence, the down range consequences were not 

well thought out. Fuel economy trumped all other considerations. 

Let’s hope history does not repeat itself. But it could. The CAFE levels many now 

want to require would have profound lifestyle consequences for our vehicle fleet— 

cars, light trucks and even large RVs and on-road trucks. Moreover, it’s highly unlikely to get us where we need to be with energy independence. In 1975, we imported 35 percent of our oil from foreign sources. Today, we import more than 70 

percent of our oil. 

I’ve been involved with CAFE for nearly three decades. I retired in 1996 after a 

career at NHTSA, the agency that manages the program. So, I’m familiar with the 

history of the CAFE program. It manipulates the supply of vehicles while ignoring 

consumer wants and needs. Thousands of lives have been lost because of unintended 

safety consequences from CAFE-induced vehicle downsizing. Whole forests have 

been decimated to print enough paper to explain its complexities. 

But its most strategic shortcoming is that it creates expectations that do not pan 

out. Conceived to reduce our reliance on foreign oil, as I mentioned earlier, we have 

since doubled the percentage of oil imports. CAFE did not do what it was intended 

to do. 

The perfect analogy of CAFE’s unintended consequences is in this month’s issue 

of Consumer Reports. The article, ‘‘Washers and Dryers—Dirty Laundry’’ is about 

the Federal Government’s new efficiency standards for washing machines that saves 

energy but weakens the washers to the point they don’t do what they’re supposed 

to. According to Consumer Reports: 

‘‘Not so long ago you could count on most washers to get your clothes very clean. 

Not anymore. Our latest tests found huge performance differences among machines. 

Some left our stain-soaked swatches nearly as dirty as they were before washing. 

For best results you’ll have to spend $900 or more. What happened? As of January, 

the U.S. Department of Energy has required washers to use 21 percent less energy, 

a goal we wholeheartedly support. But our tests have found that traditional toploaders, those with the familiar center-post agitators, are having a tough time 

wringing out those savings without sacrificing cleaning ability, the main reason you 

buy a washer.’’ 

Among the reasons we are here today is precisely because CAFE has failed to deliver and the nation needs a new strategy. Are we willing to bet our strategic interested on CAFE again, or is it time to try something else? 

So why can’t somebody just make a light truck that gets 35 miles per gallon? As 

complex as all of this is it really boils down to one simple concept: Gasoline has been 

$5 and $6 a gallon in Europe for years and yet the fastest growing vehicle segment 

in Europe is SUVs. In the United States we have had sustained high gas prices and 

light trucks are still selling strong. The marketplace is begging for an ultra-highmileage full-sized vehicle that meets the utility niche. Since market pressures have 

not already resulted in such a vehicle(s), legislation forcing its arrival surely must 

come with negative tradeoffs consumers would not accept if they knew. As a matter 

of basic fairness and sound policy, potential tradeoffs need to be anticipated and explained up front to the American people. 

Moreover, why not try a better approach? Why not work innovatively to solve our 

strategic energy challenges in ways that hold more promise and preserve the varied 

transportation needs of the American people? 

Chairman Boxer, I commend you for your remarks last month at the National 

Press Club where you said that ‘‘cars and trucks must move toward, green, renewable fuels such as environmentally clean biofuels. . . .’’ I would add clean diesel to 

the list. 

There is a ‘‘build it and they will come’’ energy opportunity in this country today. 

SUV, minivan pickup truck and RV owners would like to be able to burn alternative 

fuels that are more efficient. The problem is lack of availability and no infrastructure to make these fuels viable economically. I urge this Committee to be the catalyst for making infrastructure incentives a key part of a path forward. 

Historically our nation has accomplished great things when the times demanded 

it. Now is such a time. Energy and environmental decisions must be grounded in 

technical feasibility rather than unrealistic thinking; shared responsibility rather 

than some carrying the burden for all; and respect for individual preferences rather 

than a ‘‘nobody needs’’ attitude. 
90 

Lifestyle preferences that include outdoor recreation should be valued as traditions worth protecting. 

Finally, we must get it right this time. There will be no second chance if policies 

of expediency are allowed to rule the day and a decade from now the only results 

are way of life detriments and no environmental or energy security improvements. 

Thank you and I would be pleased to answer any questions. 
91 
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Senator BOXER. Thank you so much. 

We are now into the question time. I am going to defer my questions until the end, so I am going to call on Senator Sanders to 

start 5-minute rounds. 

Senator SANDERS. Thanks. Madam Chair, thank you very much 

for holding this important hearing and for all the work you are 

doing on raising consciousness and providing solutions on global 

warming. 

I want to thank all of the panelists. I think this has been a very 

educational opportunity for those of us up here to hear what many 

of you from different walks of life and different regions of our country have to say about the impact of global warming in your particular areas of interest. 

But let me focus my questions obviously on Bryant Watson who 

is the head of the Vermont Association of Snowmobilers and snowmobile travelers in the State of Vermont. Bryant has done a great 

job with that organization over the years. 

Bryant, you mentioned the economic impact that global warming 

is having on our economy in the loss of tourism and the fact that 

fewer people are doing snowmobiling and skiing and snowboarding 

and so forth and so on. Focus for a moment not just on tourism, 

as important as that is, but what it means for our rural way of life. 

In the wintertime, we have thousands and thousands of families. 

These are husbands, wives, and kids going out snowmobiling, going 

on beautiful trips, just incredibly beautiful parts of our State. We 

welcome all of you to come to our State to see those beautiful parts. 

But what is happening if we are losing snow and families don’t 

have the opportunity to get out in the wintertime? 

Mr. WATSON. Thank you for the question, Senator Sanders. It 

means a very lot to a lot of families who live in rural Vermont, to 

a lot of families who do not live in rural Vermont, to a lot of families from outside of the State of Vermont who come to enjoy rural 

Vermont. We have seen trail passes over the last several years be 

down more than 40 percent over what they should be, so that 

means that a very big portion of that $500 million a year economic 

impact that snowmobiling should be bringing to the State is not 

being brought to the State. 

When this happens, the small businesses, the mom and pop 

stores, the little hotels, the little motels that are in the back country of Vermont. 

Senator SANDERS. Some of our most hard pressed economic 

areas. 

Mr. WATSON. Some of our most hard pressed economic areas that 

have no other ability to offer jobs, are losing great amounts of jobs 

because of the lack of winter type tourism in those areas. Ice fishing, a lot of the lakes haven’t frozen over, Lake Champlain didn’t 

even freeze over this year, but a lot of the other lakes never froze 

over until February. So ice fishing was definitely set back many, 

many weeks from what it normally would be. So even that economic impact has not been there. 

So the snowmobile dealers in the State are having a very tough 

time as I indicated. Many of them are giving up their dealerships 

because they can’t afford to continue to take the number of snowmobiles that the dealers want to make them take in order to be 
109 

able to retain their dealership. That is not only in Vermont. I have 

talked to my counterparts in New York and Michigan and Wisconsin and Minnesota, and they all feel the same. They all see 

dealerships and/or mom and pop businesses going out of business 

because of the lack of winter recreation. 

Senator SANDERS. Okay. Thanks very much. 

Senator BOXER. Senator Sanders, thank you very much. 

Senator Lautenberg. 

Senator LAUTENBERG. Thanks again, Madam Chairman. 

Mr. Berry, I made an error when I looked at the organization you 

represent. I belong to the National Ski Association, which is not 

the ski owners, although I have tried that a little bit, and was it 

was not a good business. It had nothing to do with whether or not 

people could get to the area. 

When we look at the recreational areas, particularly I am especially fond of winter moments. My son is a ski instructor and ski 

competitor in Vail, CO. My youngest daughter was captain of the 

women’s ski team at Colgate University and she took them to a national championship. We have skied all over. At one point in time, 

I have skied every area in Vermont, Mr. Watson. As they would 

open, I would ski them. By the way, I still do it, yes, 60 years of 

skiing, and sometimes skiing 35,000 or 40,000 feet in a day, bragging. 

But what happens is not only is the lost revenue, and the pain 

to the small business people, many of whom have been in place, 

built their businesses closely in contact with the visitors, and 

present a really wholesome environment. That is the thing also, 

that when it is parents and kids together, and they are skiing together, and the only thing that gets you really ginned up is when 

your little kid passes you by on the slope. I am talking about my 

kids. I am talking about my 5-year old. She is the one who lives 

in Colorado. She is really good. 

Anyway, but it is a whole cultural thing, the trip up to Vermont, 

and we did it for many years, at night, hearing the cry, Dad, when 

are we going to get there; Dad, when are we going to get there, and 

I keep saying, in minutes, in minutes, in minutes. 

But it established a camaraderie in a family that is very hard to 

get in other places, whether it is fishing or sailing or boating or 

snowmobiling. You name it. Nothing brings families together more 

than outdoor recreational activities. I treasure it, and if I didn’t 

have to work so many hours here, I would do a lot more of it with 

my kids who live all over. 

But when we looked at what we can do about it, and I see that 

the ski areas, Mr. Berry, are finding ways to get green energy included, because there is an energy consumption, but there is no 

place that adds more to the quality of life in the country than the 

ski areas, than the recreational areas that the country owns, available for activities, whatever they are. 

So I commend those of you in the recreational industry. The erratic weather conditions are things that are talked about here in 

derogatory terms, saying, well, there are cold days out there, more 

cold days, and the polar bears aren’t really in bad shape. Well, not 

if you take them in a particular area, but if you take the population overall, they are declining. They are emaciated. It is terrible 
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to see them. Loads and loads of snow comes, and often in the Sierras, and now what happens it is gone in no time, Mr. Berry. That 

is the problem. There is very little retention of the snow. 

So the days are shortened. The people are disappointed, and the 

jobs are not there. So I commend each one of you for your comments, and once again the Chairman for highlighting this very important part of America’s favorite pastime, outdoor recreation. 

Thank you all very much. 

Senator BOXER. Senator Lautenberg, you said it so well. I really 

am not going to ask questions because really everything I was interested in each of you addressed, whether it was Mr. Campion giving us the hard cold facts on what has occurred already to his business challenges as a result of the warming of the climate, and to 

the witnesses that were invited by my Republican friends. I am 

really disappointed my friends didn’t come here. 

This was a panel was in agreement, agreement that we have to 

act. We have to be smart about how we act, but we absolutely have 

to. 

I have a couple of questions I am going to submit to you, if you 

don’t mind. I am going to hold the record open for a week and ask 

you to answer them, because it gets into some of the cures that we 

are looking at. But let me say, this was a rare experience for me 

as Chairman here, where we have people wearing so many different hats here, with one message to us which is be smart about 

this, act on this, a lot depends on it. 

I also again want to thank our sports stars who are here with 

us, who care about this deeply. It is a passion with you. You don’t 

want to think of a world where kids can’t have the chance you had. 

We are really talking about a way of life here that goes well beyond politics, and has nothing to do with politics. It brings us all 

together. It is rare that you can talk about a business that brings 

so much joy to people. It is a little different than the gas business 

where people pull up to the pump in California now, nearing $4 a 

gallon. They don’t feel so happy toward the oil business, but they 

are sure happy when they get up there. 

I agree with Mr. McCahill. We have to get them up there in fuel 

efficient vehicles. That is another one of our jobs that we have to 

do. 

So I will again say for the record, what we are talking about here 

in America, and I am trying to figuratively grab my colleagues by 

the shoulders and say, listen to this. So I am going to say it again: 

Listen to this. In 2006, national tourism-related sales amounted to 

$1.2 trillion in the United States, and were responsible for over 8 

million jobs. So when we are talking about climate change, it is not 

just an academic exercise. 

It is literally life and death for a lot of people in terms of their 

survival. When you are talking about my State, as usual we are 

usually about 10 percent, we are $94 billion, and 900,000 jobs in 

2006. The prediction of our snowpack is quite alarming. 

So I am going to follow up particularly with Dr. Scott on some 

of the technical questions about your views on these predictions. 

But we know enough now to know that time is of the essence. 

I really want to say to each and every one of you at this panel 

and to the athletes that are here today, this is just I hope you view 
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it as your first visit to Washington. Each of you I would guess without asking, and I won’t ask, you know, has different political views 

on a lot of other issues. You probably differ on many other things, 

but you are brought together on this issue. I would urge you to stay 

together, because I think if we can make this issue of global warming a bipartisan issue, there will be nothing stopping us. 

Right now, it is too polarized. We have, you know, a few bipartisan opportunities. We have the Lieberman–McCain bill. We have 

Kerry–Snowe. We have a few of these bills that are bipartisan. For 

the most part, yet, we haven’t really had the breakthrough. So I 

guess I am asking you, not asking you now, but I am asking you 

to think about this when you leave. I hope this was a good experience for you. I hope you realize that in a Senate that is so busy, 

this is probably our last day before a break, and to have four Senators here for most of the time is very, very good. I am sorry we 

didn’t have anybody from the other side. I am sure they had many 

other challenges they had to deal with today. 

But let’s not give up on this. Your voices are really key here. I 

would love to see you come back another day and bring other people from this recreation industry with you, and make it a lobby day 

on the Hill, however you do it, because, especially I would say to 

the star athletes who are here, people are very interested in meeting you, in talking with you, and hearing you. I need all the help 

I can get with this job that I have. I think your voices are going 

to really help me. 

So I thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming up here 

today. Your testimony has been entered into the record in full. It 

will make a difference as we set the stage for what we consider to 

be major legislation. We are starting with confidence-building 

measures, small measures, but they are starting to add up in the 

way Americans are looking at their daily lives. I think it is starting 

to make a difference now. 

Thank you for adding to that sense of urgency. 

The committee stands adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 11:55 a.m., the committee adjourned.] 

[Additional statement submitted for the record follows:] 

STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES M. INHOFE, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE

STATE OF OKLAHOMA

Thank you for having this hearing today, Madam Chairman. I have to say, however, that we seem to have hearing after hearing after hearing on climate change— 

indeed, this is the Committee’s second one this week alone—but we don’t seem to 

actually discuss legislation. While other Committees without jurisdiction on this 

issue attempt to write our Nation’s global warming policies, this Committee sits idly 

by talking about tangential issues. I believe that if we do wrestle with actual legislation, then the folly of cap-and-trade carbon legislation will become apparent. 

The recreation industry’s true threats come not from climate change—which has 

always changed and will always change—but from the so-called global warming ‘solutions’ being proposed by government policymakers. Misguided efforts to ‘solve’ 

global warming threaten to damage the travel and recreation industry. In short, it 

is a direct threat America’s way of life. If we cannot fly to remote locations, and 

if few automobiles are capable of pulling boats, jet skies, and campers, and if RVs 

become a thing of the past as environmentalists would like, then minor climate fluctuations will have little impact on recreation because Americans will not have the 

means to recreate. 

I will not belabor my views about the scientific underpinnings of global warming 

alarmism, other than to make a few observations. The fact that climate fluctuates— 

changes—is nothing new, and should not be feared. It has always changed, and un-
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less the processes of the planet suddenly stopped, it always will. There is little disagreement that it warmed in the Northern Hemisphere from about 1970’s until 

1998, and that since that time, temperatures flattened. And there is general agreement that some human activities such as the building of cities and expanding agriculture, have contributed to this. But there remains much debate in the peer-reviewed scientific literature as to the many factors which may influence climate that 

is of importance to the question of whether climate fluctuations are natural or 

caused by humans. But regardless of that debate, a healthy functioning planet 

means constant changes in our climate. 

There are winners and losers as climate fluctuates. A warming period could be 

a boon for warm weather destinations like beaches and lakes and a cooling period 

like we experienced from 1940-1970s could be beneficial for cold weather recreation 

like skiing and snowboarding. This past winter saw record snows in the Rocky 

Mountain region as well as an unusually cold spring in Alaska. Currently, we are 

seeing a Memorial Day snow advisory for the Colorado Mountains. Wyoming being 

buried in a May snowstorm and parts of Canada are still enduring winter. In addition, South Africa just set 54 new cold weather records with some parts seeing snow 

for the first time in 33 years as snow and ice continue to fall. And I am not finished. 

A massive snowstorm in China has closed highways and stranded motorists. And 

finally, winter has arrived early in Australia as the snow season is off to a promising start for the winter recreation industry. 

But the most verifiable threat to the recreation and travel industry is the unintended consequences of misguided government policy and environmental activists. 

The chilling effect of guilt that the climate alarmists are attempting to instill in 

Americans for owning four wheel drive vehicles, flying in an airplane and enjoying 

travel is enough to harm the industry. For examples of this promotion of misguided 

policies and guilt, you need look no further than a proposal in April by the UKbased Institute for Public Policy Research, which called for tobacco-style health 

warnings on airplanes to warn passengers that the plane flight may be contributing 

to a global warming crisis. The group proposed posting signs on airplanes which 

read ‘‘flying causes climate change.’’ 

Another example of unintended consequences by climate crusaders was the recent 

proclamation by a UK grocery store announcing it would usher in ’carbon friendly’ 

policies and stop importing food from faraway nations. This proposal may have been 

popular with wealthy Western environmentalists, but the idea did not sit so well 

with poor African farmers. As a February 21, 2007 BBC article details:

‘‘Kenyan farmers, whose lifelong carbon emissions are negligible compared with 

their counterparts in the West, are fast becoming the victims of a green campaign 

that could threaten their livelihoods. A recent bold statement by UK supermarket 

Tesco ushering in ‘carbon friendly’ measures—such as restricting the imports of air 

freighted goods by half and the introduction of ‘carbon counting’ labeling—has had 

environmentalists dancing in the fresh produce aisles, but has left African horticulturists confused and concerned.’’ 

The BBC article continues: 

‘‘Half of this produce goes to the UK’s supermarkets, generating at least £100m 

per year for this developing country. The dependence on the UK market cannot be 

underestimated, says Stephen Mbithi Mwikya, chief executive of FPEAK. For 

Kenya, horticulture is the country’s second biggest foreign exchange earner after 

tourism. ‘This announcement from Tesco is devastating’, says Mr Mbithi.’’ 

The recent announcement by travel guru Mark Ellingham, the author of the 

Rough Guide travel book series, that he was now recanting his promotion of worldwide travel is another blow to the travel and recreation industry. Ellingham now 

says that our addiction to ‘binge flying’ is killing the planet. 

This kind of alarmism should concern the travel and recreation industry, not natural climate fluctuations which mankind has no control over. 

There is even more proof showing that the dangers facing travel and recreation 

are coming from climate hysteria. The Associated Press on May 16, 2007 reported 

that ecotourism—the type of travel you would expect environmentalists to endorse— 

is no more Earth friendly than regular travel due to the long plane flights necessary 

to bring vacationers to exotic locales. The Norwegian Environment Minister Helen 

Bjoernoey is now warning about long distance travel. 

‘‘Long distance travel—especially air travel—is a challenge to all of us. We know 

that it has serious impacts on the climate,’’ Bjoernoey said. 

I cannot think of a more devastating sentiment to the industry than that. Reduce 

air travel because of unfounded fears of climate doom. That is the authentic threat 

not only to the travel industry, but the developing world which depends so much 

on tourism to improve the life its residents. Clearly, the unfounded fears of a man- 
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made climate catastrophe and the proposed solutions represent the gravest threats 

to the industry. 

Thank you. 

Æ