S2_11-15-04

• Basin: Statewide
• Title: SWSI Phase 1 Report - Section 2 Statewide Demographic, Economic, and Social Setting
• Date: 11/15/2004
• Author: CWCB
• SWSI - Doc Type: Final Report

Section 2
Statewide Demographic, Economic, and Social Setting
2.2.2.3 Farm Employment
Employment in farming in Colorado accounts for a
relatively minor portion of the state's total employment.
Table 2-9 shows the percent contributions to total
statewide employment attributable to farming in Colorado
from the period 1970 to 2000. Farming employment has
declined from about 5 percent 30 years ago to less than
2 percent in 2000.
Employment in farming, in absolute terms, is not an
insignificant component of the Colorado economy,
employing roughly 45,000 people in 2000. Table 2-9
illustrates how farming employment has remained fairly
steady from 1970 to 2000, while steadily decreasing as a
fraction of total employment as other employment
sectors have increased.
Transportation, Automotive Rental and Leasing,
Amusement and Recreation Services, and Retail
Excluding Restaurants and Gas Stations.
2.2.3.1 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.
2.2.3 Recreation and Tourism in
Colorado
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
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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.
2.2.3.2 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 skiing in addition to pleasure
boating. It is difficult to estimate participation rates for
lake boating because different government agencies
maintain the different lakes. The impact of lake levels on
boating has not been estimated, but low lake levels can
be expected to hamper boating.
Visitor days to Colorado State Parks average over
11,000,000 peryear. The Colorado Division of Parks and
Outdoor Recreation (CDPOR) estimates that boating at
the lakes and reservoirs at these state parks generates
over $375 million per year to the state economy. Boating
at other public and private lakes and reservoirs is not
included in this estimate (CDPOR 2004).
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Statew~itle Water Supply Inii'iative
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