Item: FUNDING THE FORECAST: COMPARING APPROACHES TO AVALANCHE RISK MANAGEMENT
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Title: FUNDING THE FORECAST: COMPARING APPROACHES TO AVALANCHE RISK MANAGEMENT
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Liz Daniel [ Northwest Avalanche Center, North Bend, WA, USA ] [ University of Washington, Bothell, WA, USA ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: Winter backcountry recreation has grown dramatically in recent years. Despite this surge, annual avalanche fatalities in the US have remained stable for the last three decades. This juxtaposing trend is largely attributed to avalanche safety programs. The structure and stability of these programs directly shape their performance and effectiveness; structure encompasses operational architecture (staffing, governance, partner networks, and service dissemination), while stability refers to the financial mechanisms sustaining operations. When funding is unreliable, operations follow: staff positions go unfilled, forecast coverage shrinks, and public risk communication erodes, undermining a program's ability to reduce avalanche fatalities. Understanding how US avalanche programs are structured and funded, and how those models compare with peer countries, helps identify which models best support durable, effective public safety services. This study is a comparative policy analysis examining avalanche programs in the US and peer countries across North America, Europe, and New Zealand. Using a literature review, expert informant surveys, semi-formal interviews, and comparative analysis of 12 programs across seven countries, the study evaluates differing organizational approaches to identify policy recommendations that could improve the long-term efficacy and stability of US avalanche programs. Findings indicate that organizational structure explains how a program is funded and staffed, but does not reliably predict its effectiveness or funding stability. Instead, whether funding is legally protected—through legislated mandates or multi-year contracts—is the stronger predictor of program durability. Based on these and additional findings, this research recommends standardizing multi-year funding mechanisms, strengthening cohesion among US avalanche centers, preserving existing nonprofit partnerships, and adopting reach-based metrics alongside fatality data to more fully capture and translate program impact.
Object ID: ISSW2026_P2.28.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790098956
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Liz Daniel
Keywords: avalanche forecasting operations, organizational structure, funding, program analysis
Page Number(s): 1158 - 1165
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