Should the NWAC be publicly funded?

While NWAC can't replace experienced on site analysis, they seem to be the best at what they do for our area.  I think most of us agree on the need for their continued existence.  If you take up the question of public money, you'll have to challenge current norm across all government spending.  If I give more to NWAC, can I stop paying for the dog park since I don't own a dog?.  Personally I support the notion of distributed costs, it provides for a lot of valuable programs that might otherwise fall through the cracks.

In microcosm, this illustrates an unfortunate trend to attempt to de-fund public goods especially those that create and provide knowledge of the natural world (or create and provide knowledge generally). Hollowing out the core of our public goods will leave our entire country at the mercy of multinational corporations which only serve our interests for exactly as far as we can pay for them and not a penny's worth more. Not the world I want my daughter to grow up to.

We all pay for things we don't want to. There are far higher costing and far more controversial activities (for instance, foreign wars, foreign bases, military aid to foreign dictators, special forces installing yet more foreign dictators so we can send them more military aid) which would be far better places to look to save lots and lots of money. After saving a few hundred billion or a few trillion there, if there still is a shortage of funding, let's talk about NWAC's budget.

Not to get too involved, but for what it is worth:

I am a DOT Avalanche Forecast Supervisor on Snoqualmie Pass and TAY contributer. We, the WSDOT  and State of WA, provide quite a bit of funding to the NWAC. Our programs contribute snowpack information to the NWAC and receive detailed mountain weather forecasts specific to our respective areas. These weather forecasts are integral to our avalanche control decisions; decisions that affect the safety of highway travelers and the movement of commerce.

A highway such as I-90 is a critical component of our regional economy. 30,000 vehicles a day travel I-90 and many of those vehicles are trucks heading to and from our region's ports. I think anyone that travels our highways understands the economic significance. The public funding that our State provides is a benefit to backcountry travelers, but the reason we provide that funding is to assist our highway avalanche safety programs which in turn benefits the flow of traffic and thus our economy.

Please take a look at the origins of the NWAC, the WSDOT has been right there from the beginning. For many users the NWAC is simply some weather data and an avalanche forecast, but the products that NWAC produces go beyond mountain weather data and a generalized avalanche forecast. They provide detailed information and technical advice to specific operations both public and private.

On a personal level, I've worked with the NWAC for over 25 years. Sue Ferguson provided me with a wealth of weather data when I was an undergraduate and Mark Moore and company continue to provide technical and meteorological assistance to this day. As someone who is deeply involved with this program I cannot say enough about the benefit that all mountain travelers receive from their forecasts. Whether you are skiing the Slot or visiting your Aunt Cora in Ellensburg, the NWAC plays a part in your winter travels.

Cheers,

Stimbuck

avalanche.state.co.us/acc/acc_images/Slide9.JPG .
shows avy deaths increasing despite NWAC and their like in different states?? Maybe for saving recreational users lives it's not very effective and a better use of the funds could be made?

avalanche.state.co.us/acc/acc_images/Slide5.JPG
suggests NWAC should be directed more towards snowmobilers . Maybe Lowell's Base Jumper comment should therefore prevail??? Are snowmobilers using the site a lot? Based upon the snowmobilers I know ( quite a few) the answer is no. Perhaps if they want to save lives they need to outreach more to specific groups such as snowmobilers.
If your read the site and the data it's geared towards skiers and backcountry skiers/riders almost exclusively although they throw in the generic backountry traveller as a catch all. But the fact remains , they aren't reaching or being used by the majority of the people who die in avalanches each year. Pure conjecture but could that be because its manly a ski centric organization and they have an albeit unconscious distaste for snowmobiles?? not an accusation... just a theory.

In microcosm, this illustrates an unfortunate trend to attempt to de-fund public goods especially those that create and provide knowledge of the natural world (or create and provide knowledge generally).  Hollowing out the core of our public goods will leave our entire country at the mercy of multinational corporations which only serve our interests for exactly as far as we can pay for them and not a penny's worth more.  Not the world I want my daughter to grow up to.

We all pay for things we don't want to.  There are far higher costing and far more controversial activities (for instance, foreign wars, foreign bases, military aid to foreign dictators, special forces installing yet more foreign dictators so we can send them more military aid) which would be far better places to look to save lots and lots of money.  After saving a few hundred billion or a few trillion there, if there still is a shortage of funding, let's talk about NWAC's budget. 
 

Total hyperbole and emotional blackmail IMHO but thanks for you opinion.
Backcountry skiing is a hedonistic recreation. In AZ some people are getting heart transplants cut by the state due to funding shortfalls. If there was choice between getting my son or your daughter a needed transplant and funding NWAC ... I know where my priorities would be.
Budget shortfalls are a bitch... somethings got to give. Frivolous recreational pursuits should be first.
Remember I support the NWAC and think its a good thing( but needs redirecting to reach those that are dying most....snowmobilers) but think it should be privately funded by it's users not abolished.
Pay up!

Not to get too involved, but for what it is worth:

I am a DOT Avalanche Forecast Supervisor on Snoqualmie Pass and TAY contributer. We, the WSDOT  and State of WA, provide quite a bit of funding to the NWAC. Our programs contribute snowpack information to the NWAC and receive detailed mountain weather forecasts specific to our respective areas. These weather forecasts are integral to our avalanche control decisions; decisions that affect the safety of highway travelers and the movement of commerce.

A highway such as I-90 is a critical component of our regional economy. 30,000 vehicles a day travel I-90 and many of those vehicles are trucks heading to and from our region's ports. I think anyone that travels our highways understands the economic significance. The public funding that our State provides is a benefit to backcountry travelers, but the reason we provide that funding is to assist our highway avalanche safety programs which in turn benefits the flow of traffic and thus our economy.

Please take a look at the origins of the NWAC, the WSDOT has been right there from the beginning. For many users the NWAC is simply some weather data and an avalanche forecast, but the products that NWAC produces go beyond mountain weather data and a generalized avalanche forecast. They provide detailed information and technical advice to specific operations both public and private.

On a personal level, I've worked with the NWAC for over 25 years. Sue Ferguson provided me with a wealth of weather data when I was an undergraduate and Mark Moore and company continue to provide technical and meteorological assistance to this day. As someone who is deeply involved with this program I cannot say enough about the benefit that all mountain travelers receive from their forecasts. Whether you are skiing the Slot or visiting your Aunt Cora in Ellensburg, the NWAC plays a part in your winter travels.

Cheers,

Stimbuck

If it's essential for WA DOT for the commerce of the state then why isn't it fully funded by the state and why every year is it threated with withdraw of funding or significant reduction. You can't have it both ways you know.