A great degree of cultural misunderstanding exists over the meanings of reclaimed water, snowmaking, and sacred space which is resulting in conflict.

This misunderstanding is due in part to a general lack of cultural relativism and an ignorance of cultural constructivism. Not only do people feel that their culture is superior to others on both side of the snowmaking issue (and it is not), they also do not generally understand that other cultures involve other ways of seeing and interpreting reality [25]. When another culture is associated with a language that is not your own, as is the case with Navaho culture from the point of view of greater Flagstaff (or vice versa), then these ways of seeing and interpreting reality will be significantly different than what you are used to.

One consequence of a lack of cultural relativism is the incorrect idea that both Native Cultures and "Anglo-American" Cultures are homogeneous, incorrect, and essentially immoral.

A history of Western conflict exists which is giving meaning to snowmaking as if it were an idiom of expression.

In regard to the economic role of Snowbowl, there is a continuum of local perceptions which range from "Snowbowl is essential to Flagstaff’s economy" to "Snowbowl has nothing to do with Flagstaff’s economy". In addition, there is the idea that Flagstaff is too dependant upon tourism and skiing and that it needs to encourage more green-industries to come to Flagstaff.

In regard to the recent lack of heavy snowfall, some people argue that this is an illness, a natural defect which snowmaking can cure. Another opinion is that the real illness is the decay and destruction of nature and that low snowfall is itself a message from spiritual powers.

Upper Lake Mary is projected to be at 8% capacity by January 1, 2003 : "This will leave no factor of safety for the next water supply season. The city will be forced to use the well fields as the predominant water source this year..." (Report to the Water Commission 2002: 4).

"Year 2002 will be the third consecutive year that the wells were used heavily, and the repair bills reflect this usage. In addition, the city is monitoring lower groundwater levels, increased plugging of the well screens and experienced decreased production from certain wells. The emergency usage of the Lake will be needed during the peal weeks if a number of wells go down for repairs." (Report to the Water Commission 2002: 4) Despite these factors, the city is still able to supply its demand and it is not currently in a critical shortage period (due in part to the opening of new wells).

Due to "changes in weather patterns, unreliable surface water supplies and declining ground water supplies" (Ron Doba 11/21 power point), the city of Flagstaff is currently drafting a new water conservation ordinance (posted on this site: the crossed-out sections are being revised).

Flagstaff is currently looking into the expanding the number of customers who use reclaimed water. This is in accordance with the "Flagstaff Area Regional Land Use and Transportation Plan" strategy NCR1.2(b) which states "Large non-residential consumptive uses that do not require potable water should utilize reclaimed water for their needs. Examples include, but are not limited to, golf courses and public facilities, such as city and county parks." (from Ron Doba’s Reclaimed Water Prioritization Plan Power Point presentation, this website).

Simply put, the more customers for reclaimed water the more potable water is available for regular demand when these customers would otherwise be consuming potable water. For example, "NAU is finishing a feasibility study for converting irrigation systems to reclaim[ed] water. The final report indicates that this could save 375,000 gallons of potable water per day." (Report to the Water Commission 2002: 5).

The Water commission is interested in lessening city turf and "trying to stop the huge irrigation demands on our system" (Commission Member).

When it comes to irrigation, businesses are held to the same water restrictions as everyone else when they use potable water. According to the Draft Water Conservation ordinance (this site) Resource Status III (Water Crises) occurs when "...water demand exceeds total production capability and the amount of water in storage may impair fire protection for the city." One of the consequences of this status is "No person shall...Use any potable water for outside use" and "No special or commercial provisions shall be allowed". Since Snowbowl is not going to use potable water, these restrictions would not apply (there is no plan to cycle reclaimed water into the potable water system in the event of an emergency to my knowledge).

Given the recent Water Commission public comments, people in the community want the following: turf reduction, a more logical irrigation strategy from NAU (people commented on the degree of wasted water and applauded recent efforts to upgrade to reclaimed water), and more strict penalties for water conservation ordinance violators.

One idea from recent Water Commission meetings is that "...active reclaimed water may eventually have to be used in the future to recharge our aquifers." (Water Commission member). Since reclaimed water is chlorinated, active recharge of Lower Lake Mary (for example) would have to involve a de-chlorination process.

Despite the findings of the Forest Service’s Environmental Impact Statement, the reclaimed water used for snowmaking contains enough of a certain type of chemical (chlorine, salt, etc.) to disrupt the status of healthy soils in the context of Snowbowl. Indigenous plant life begins to suffer to the degree that in the spring the effect becomes noticeable as a brown patch amid the otherwise healthy-green of the Peaks. People in Flagstaff begin to comment on the sight to one another, but nothing is done about it. Eventually the effect moves down the mountain...

After the expansion is completed and winter skiing is in full swing, lawsuits are filed charging that skiers are developing illnesses from the reclaimed water snow. Whether or not these illnesses are the result of reclaimed water, public outcry develops after local people begin dying from what their families claim are reclaimed-water-sickness complications.

Snowbowl completes its expansion and skiing is in full swing. Due to a continued trend in warmer weather patterns and lower precipitation, Snowbowl is forced to rely too heavily on artificial snow. People become dissatisfied with ski conditions, attendance drops, and eventually people are seriously injured while skiing due to the icy conditions.

Snowbowl is faced with stiff legal challenges from Native Peoples as construction begins on the expansion. When these challenges fail, local activists begin damaging pipelines and other Snowbowl property as a last resort to stop what they perceive to be a significant desecration...

Not long after the final stages of Snowbowl’s expansion, Flagstaff finds itself in the position of not being able to supply its water demand...wells run dry, Lake Mary vanishes, and the city is forced to consider using its reclaimed water for potable consumption. Snowbowl goes under as the current trend in low snowfall continues and reclaimed water is no longer available for purchase. Local tourist industries suffer major losses and begin closing down, Flagstaff’s economy crumbles, and local headlines read "We told you so!".

Winter traffic increases in Flagstaff beyond the levels of warmer months as the tourism industry explodes. Not only does driving in town become a nightmare, the number of accidents and road rage incidents increase sharply. In response, Flagstaff raises taxes and constructs an even larger road system to handle the increased flow, which has a discernable impact on the look and feel of the city. The impact of increased automobile emissions on the health of the community, the increasing pace of tourism-driven development, and rising housing costs all combine to drive away long-time community members.

The idiom of conflict between Native Americans and Anglo-America intensifies as Snowbowl completes its expansion, resulting in a long lasting sense of distrust and hostility between the two groups which lasts for generations.

The combined effect of reclaimed water snowmaking and expanded Snowbowl infrastructure results in serious perceived damage to the spiritual nature of the Peaks. Native Peoples are demoralized and deeply offended. While in some cases this results in a retrenchment of their cultural values, in most cases it contributes to the acculturation (loss of culture) of Native Peoples.

Whether due to nature or powerful spiritual forces, Snowbowl is destroyed as the San Francisco Peaks awaken and erupt...

Any effort on Snowbowl’s behalf to address native concerns, to "come down off its mountain" in a sense and take Native peoples seriously would itself go a long way to lessen hostility and lessen the perceived damage the proposed expansion would cause.

If local tribes were to offer some form of economic incentive to Snowbowl in exchange for this type of move, then Snowbowl would be more likely to listen to their concerns. Perhaps they could (and I know this sounds unlikely) offer to help fund the constructions for example. In working with Snowbowl, Native peoples could work to lessen the impact of structures and features by getting involved in their design and layouts. If they do nothing, then Snowbowl will proceed without their input. Another possibility is that Native peoples could offer to perform dances and public events at the Snowbowl, which would draw potential customers in off seasons, in exchange for a willingness from Snowbowl to work toward the next point below...

Snowbowl might consider ways to lessen the perceived cultural contagion of the reclaimed water. While I offer no methods to accomplish this here, it is possible that Native religious practitioners might have a way to spiritually influence the water, much in the same way food products are rendered Kosher (some essences can be removed through ritual). It may also be the case that other, more physical manipulations may serve to cleanse the snow, or even an increased chemical purity may do the trick. While this might result in an increased expenditure on infrastructure, in the long run Snowbowl will do better having considered the Native perspective. There is also the advantageous potential that in working to ease Native contagion-concerns, Snowbowl could ease the concerns of non-Natives as well.