The Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011, which was signed by President Barack Obama on Nov. 7, is estimated to create and annually sustain up to 600 extra jobs nationwide. “This is great news for promoting job growth and economic stimulus in California,” said Regional Forester Randy Moore. “Local restaurants, hotels and shop owners are likely to see an increase in business as visitors flock to scenic Forest Service locations for year-round activities.” In California, there are 25 ski areas on 11 national forests:
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- Angeles National Forest:
- Mountain High (East, West & North)
- Mt. Waterman
- Ski Sunrise
- Mt. Baldy
- Eldorado National Forest:
- Kirkwood Ski
- Sierra at Tahoe
- Inyo National Forest:
- June Mountain
- Mammoth
- Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit:
- Heavenly
- Homewood
- Lassen National Forest:
- Stover Mountain
- Modoc National Forest:
- Cedar Pass
- San Bernardino National Forest:
- Bear Mountain
- Big Air/Green Valley
- Snow Summit
- Snow Valley
- Sequoia National Forest:
- Shirley Meadow
- Sierra National Forest:
- Sierra Summit
- Stanislaus National Forest:
- Bear Valley
- Dodge Ridge
- Tahoe National Forest:
- Donner Ski Ranch
- Boreal Ridge
- Alpine Meadows
- Squaw Valley
- Sugarbowl
“National forests will now be able to provide even more economic benefits to some hard-hit mountain communities,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “Our national forests are America’s gems. Now more visitors will have so many more recreational opportunities on these beautiful lands in California.” Nationwide, it is estimated that roughly 600,000 more summertime visits may create and sustain annually up to 600 more full-, part-time and seasonal jobs nationwide. This addition of summer recreation is expected to infuse almost $40 million of direct funding into mountain communities near ski areas. Currently, the Forest Service averages 27 million visits annually to ski areas, which has in turn contributed $4 billion every year, and 80,000 jobs in rural communities. Protecting natural resources on the Forest Service’s 122 ski areas will remain a priority and year-long facilities will be subject to the same review and approval processes as those for ski facilities such as the construction of ski lifts and ski trails. Not all recreation activities will be permitted. Those considered to be destructive to the natural
environment will be excluded, including tennis courts, water slides and water parks, swimming pools, golf courses, and amusement parks.
The mission of the U.S. Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Recreational activities on our lands contribute $14.5 billion annually to the U.S. economy. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.
