The retailers were urging members of Congress to reverse cuts proposed by President Bush to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which helps build trails, parks, boat docks and other recreation areas.
The lands that are preserved by the fund, said Peter Metcalf, CEO of Black Diamond Equipment, are the foundation for the industry that contributes $730 billion a year and 6.5 million jobs to the U.S. economy, according to an industry study, "and right now they're not being maintained and being grossly under-funded."
"It's easy to turn a blind eye and say we'll fund it next year," said Metcalf. By the time you get around to funding it, it's too late.
Mark Rasmussen, president and CEO of Petzl America, which manufactures climbing equipment, said the projects supported by the Land and Water Conservation Fund are the type that average Americans take advantage of in their local communities.
The industry representatives were also supporting a proposal to infuse $1 billion in new funding for the National Parks over the next decade, and to seek matching funds from private industry.
Metcalf and Rasmussen were two of about 40 executives on Capitol Hill this week. Both of their companies have a strong presence in Utah.
The association's study estimates that the outdoor industry contributes $5.8 billion to the state's economy and creates 65,000 jobs. Ignoring its importance would be like letting Hill Air Force Base shut down, said Metcalf.
The association has already built a record of flexing its political muscle in Utah, successfully pressing Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. not to move on a petition to the U.S. Forest Service that could have had the effect of opening forest lands to development.
And previously, the retailers had used the threat of relocating their annual convention away from Salt Lake City to leverage wilderness concessions from then-Gov. Mike Leavitt.
Metcalf said the association is making its case to Congress that recreation is a valuable, sustainable, productive use of the public lands, and deserves a seat at the table, along with the oil and gas industry and others.
The Utah members of the association had meetings in the offices of Reps. Jim Matheson, Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop and with Sen. Bob Bennett this week.
