Ski areas pay record amount for use of White River National Forest lands

The 11 ski areas that operate in the White River National Forest broke the record for fees they paid to use public lands during the 2013-14 season, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The ski areas — headed by four owned by Vail Resorts and four owned by Aspen Skiing Co. — combined to pay $15.75 million during the Forest Service’s 2014 fiscal year. That was up $2.26 million, or 17 percent, from the 2013 fiscal year, according to figures supplied by the national forest supervisor’s office. The federal agency’s fiscal year ends in September, so the fees paid reflect booming business during the snowy 2013-14 ski season and a small but growing amount from summer operations. The ski-area payments are determined by a complex formula that includes uphill chairlift capacity, percentage of public lands used for the ski area, skier visits and revenues from facilities and services operated on public lands...more