The United States Supreme Court has decided not to review the en banc decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of the Untied States Forest Service and Arizona Snowbowl.

This means that Arizona Snowbowl will be allowed to work with the Forest Service to implement an upgrade plan which will enhance the skiing experience for the guests. The upgrade plan, which will be completed over the course of the next several years, will include the ability for Arizona Snowbowl to use reclaimed wastewater water to produce artificual snow. However, do to the scope of the project, the snowmaking system will not be operational for the 2009-2010 season.

Several Native American tribes, including the Navajo, who were the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit, the Hopi, Hualapai, Havasupai, and Apaches, believe using reclaimed wastewater there was tantamount to dumping sewage on their sacred sites.

AZCentral.com

However, the Supreme Court upheld the Ninth Circuit Court’s decision and would not review the case.

Arizona skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts should all be pleased, as Arizona Snowbowl will effectively be able to compete with Sunrise Ski Park, an Arizona ski resort near Pinetop, AZ. Sunrise Park Resort is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe and currently creates their own snow. Arizona Snowbowl on the other hand, had to rely purely on naturally created snow, which is hit or miss some years in Northern Arizona.