Don't Eat The Snow: New Developments in the Ongoing Arizona Snowbowl Saga

Don't Eat The Snow: New Developments in the Ongoing Arizona Snowbowl Saga

Posted by: Molly K Baker / added: 05.29.2010 / Back to News ��Chatter

After losing a U.S Supreme Court battle, the Navajo Nation is offering another rebuttal to the necessity of snowmaking at Arizona's Snowbowl, as featured in The Ski Journal Issue #2.1.

"This (source of water) is not more culturally sensitive. The Navajo Nation has always taken the position that they oppose the use of any water for snowmaking on the San Francisco Peaks," said an attorney representing the Navajo Nation in regards to the debate over the use of treated water for snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl. The tribe filed suit when the US Forest Service decided that for the first time in Snowbowl’s 71 year history snowmaking had become a necessity and would use reclaimed wastewater. The tribe argued treated water did not need to be spread on sacred land. The new proposed source of water, a source that supplies Flagstaff area homes, also resonates negatively with the tribes. The chairman of the Hopi tribe just recently said that his tribe opposes any use of water for snowmaking in the San Francisco Peaks. Jumping through all the hoops of a legal debate, the tribes are trying a different approach; arguing that the federal government did not clear the reclaimed water safe to be ingested, in the case of someone eating the snow.

And on it goes...it doesn't look like this issue will be resolved anytime soon.




Comments:

Posted by Bill on Jun 1st, 2010 @ 1:04 pm

interesting

It will be fascinating to see how the judges rule. I am all for using waste water but treated water seems like a real waste. I am pretty sure other resorts around the country are using waste water to cover their slopes, and as long as it doesn’t pollute the creeks and rivers I don’t think that it is a big deal. Although, if the land is sacred that brings up an entirely different and more difficult situation. Keep us posted on any developments, this case is very interesting.
Posted by No Dirty Snow on Jun 2nd, 2010 @ 1:10 pm

Sacred Land

Isn't all land sacred? How does the waste water not pollute nearby creeks and rivers?




Drop A Line:

SUBSCRIBE

What's better than reading it online? Feeling it in your hands.

/ Subscribe Today

Be Our Friend

The Ski Journal on Facebook

News ��Chatter Contributors

Colin   (96)
Spencer Pederson   (77)
Angelo   (75)
Molly K Baker   (53)
Sakeus Bankson   (30)
Michael Israelson   (21)
Brigid Mander   (7)
Wibby   (6)
Dan K   (4)
Jessie Lu   (3)
Kris   (2)
Tim Cartwright   (1)
Grant Gunderson   (1)
Jessie Carlson   (1)
Pip Hunt   (1)

Stay In the Know

Subscribe to News � Chatter

Archives

2012   (66)
2011   (153)
2010   (121)
2009   (69)
2008   (26)
2007   (19)
2006   (6)

This Makes Us Smile

Peeps We Like

Greg Hill
Pep Fujas
Michelle Parker
Nimbus Independent
Jordan Manley
Erik Seo

Stay In The Know

Sign Up