Despite record snow this winter, Colorado's ski areas could be in for a serious lack of the white stuff before the end of the century, according to the latest State of the Rockies Report Card [1], the third annual assessment of the region produced by Colorado College [2]. The report card found that across the Rockies, 14 ski areas could lost half their annual snowfall by 2085.

The snowfall predictions are based on estimates of temperature increase if carbon dioxide emission levels rise or remain constant (though the latter is unlikely). Because the region gets much of its water supply from melting snow in the spring, a decrease in snowfall would affect more than just the ski industry. Water shortages are already a problem in the West, and have been exacerbated in recent years by prolonged drought and exploding populations. Loss of snowfall would significantly affect water supplies.

The State of the Rockies [3] Report Card was released as part of a conference [4] taking place this week in Colorado Springs, featuring speakers and panels on issues of regional importance, such as land conservation, biodiversity, and climate change.

Photo credit: NOAA [5]