DENVER—The National Ski Areas Association has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service challenging a new water-rights clause in some resorts’ permits.
The trade group had said in December that it would sue. It filed its lawsuit Monday in federal court in Denver.
The lawsuit argues the Forest Service has directed employees to insert language in ski area permits to seize resorts’ privately owned water rights at ski areas on national forests. The trade association is seeking a nationwide injunction to set aside the directive, which it says exceeds the authority of the Forest Service.
The Forest Service has told The Denver Post previously that the new water-rights clause protects the long-term viability of ski areas by tying water resources tied to the land, not the resort operator.
