SWSI Environment and Recreation Needs and Priorities TRT Draft

• Technical Roundtable: Recreation & Environment
• Title: SWSI - Environment and Recreation Needs and Priorities White Paper
• SWSI II - Doc Type: White Papers

3. Colorado Recreation Economy

Section 2 of the SWSI Report discusses the Colorado recreation economy and information on
other economic sectors and their role to Colorado's overall economy. The following information
on Colorado's recreational economy is taken from Section 2.2.3 of the SWSI Report.

Recreation and tourism activities are economically important in Colorado. According to the
Colorado Office of State Planning and Budgeting Memorandum on the Economic Impact of
Drought (2002), tourism spending injects $8.5 billion into Colorado's economy and 8 percent of
the work force is employed in recreation and tourism activities. Water-related activities,
including winter sports, comprise a significant portion of the recreation attractions drawing
tourists to Colorado. The most prevalent water-based activities are fishing, boating, and skiing.
Water needs for recreation are generally non-consumptive and can be complementary to
environmental water needs. One example is maintaining minimum instream flows to provide
fish habitat and thereby benefiting recreational fishing.

Recreation and tourism expenditures are not compiled separately in federal government
statistics. Various Colorado state agencies and public interest groups compile economic data on
recreation and tourism. A significant portion of recreation and tourism expenditures are related
to water. Some activities, such as boating and fishing, are totally dependent on water
availability. Other activities, such as hunting, wildlife viewing, and camping, are impacted by
water availability but not considered water-based recreation. Recreation and tourism
expenditures are primarily contained within the services category of major industrial categories.
The major subcategories within the services category are Hotels and Lodging, Eating and
Drinking Places, Air Transportation, Automotive Rental and Leasing, Amusement and
Recreation Services, and Retail Excluding Restaurants and Gas Stations.

Skiing

Between 1997 and 2003, skier visits (days) in Colorado have varied between 11,000,000 and
12,000,000 annually, according to Colorado Ski Country USA, the official recorder of ski
statistics. The number of skier visits has not grown during these years, but has varied based
upon economic and weather conditions. Colorado resorts use a relatively insignificant amount
of water for snow making compared to Colorado's overall water consumption, but it can have a
significant local environmental impact on high mountain streams near the ski resorts.

A published report on the economic impact of the skiing industry in Colorado was not found.
The January 14, 2003 Snow Journal states that skiers spend $1.7 billion in Colorado, which has
an estimated economic impact of $4.2 billion (the source of these statistics is not cited). An
economic analysis of the Vermont ski industry estimated that the average per trip expenditure
for ski visitors was $876 in 1999. Based upon 11,000,000 skier days, the $1.7 billion annual
expenditure in Colorado would equal $154.54 per skier day. Since ski trips are usually several
days, the Colorado expenditure figure is consistent with the Vermont economic analysis.

Boating

Boat registration around Colorado has increased from 91,579 in 1996 to 104,880 in 2001. Boating
in Colorado is centered in lakes and reservoirs where boats are used for fishing and water

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