Drought Risk and Information Needs of the Outdoor Industry

Extreme drought events are affecting certain regions of the United States with increased frequency and severity. The outdoor recreation industry is particularly exposed to the effects of drought, especially water-based outdoor recreation businesses. This webinar will explore the effects of uncertain snowpack levels, streamflows, and warming temperatures on outdoor recreation businesses with a focus on snow- and water-based activities (skiing, fishing, rafting, etc.).

The webinar is based in part on a research project sponsored by the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) in partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder’s Masters of the Environment Program (MENV). The project incorporated 47 interviews and 65 survey responses with outdoor industry stakeholders to investigate drought issues facing the outdoor recreation industry in the Intermountain West (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY). The webinar will also include perspectives from Marca Hagenstad, economist and founder of Circle Economics, on how climate variability affects the winter recreation industry and the livelihoods on those that depend on it.