Navajos Upset Over Wastewater Snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl

The Christian Science Monitor reports that Navajos are upset with the Forest Service recent approval of a plan to use recycled sewage water for snow making at the Arizona Ski Bowl. 14 tribes have opposed the move and there were 10,000 comments before Cocincino Supervisor Nora Rasure made the annoucement. The Snowbowl occupies just 777 acres in a mountain forest covering 74,000 acres – 1 percent of which is directly impacted by skiing. The are 400 ski related Flagstaff jobs supporting the 150,000 annual visitors. The Navajo compare the San Francisco Mountains to the National Cathedral. In another related battle Devil’s Tower in Wyoming is considering renaming the land “Bear Lodge” — its traditional name.

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