Does Snowmaking Effect Does Snowmaking Effect the Hydrologic Cycle?the Hydrologic Cycle?

Kelly DoyleKelly DoyleSpring 2003Spring 2003

http://www.ist-snow.com/

Why the Need for Snowmaking?Why the Need for Snowmaking?

Good early season snow gives skier Good early season snow gives skier confidenceconfidence

Increases use during low snow seasonsIncreases use during low snow seasons Provides good base for powderProvides good base for powder Provides sustainable rate of growth for Provides sustainable rate of growth for

expansions such as new facilities and to expansions such as new facilities and to enhance skiing experienceenhance skiing experience

Stability for the local tourism based Stability for the local tourism based economyeconomy

How is Snow Artificially Made?How is Snow Artificially Made?

http://www.arecosnow.comwww.snowmaking.com.au/ht_docs/index.html

How is Snow Made?How is Snow Made? Water Vapor sublimates into tiny ice crystals in Water Vapor sublimates into tiny ice crystals in

atmosphereatmosphere 3 Factors:3 Factors:

– Temperature: if <0F, snow denser, ~15F, light and fluffy with Temperature: if <0F, snow denser, ~15F, light and fluffy with large ice crystalslarge ice crystals

– Duration of descentDuration of descent– Temperature on ground determines wetness of snowTemperature on ground determines wetness of snow

http://www.ist-snow.com/page2.html

How is Snow Made Artificially?How is Snow Made Artificially? Cold water & compressed air within a Cold water & compressed air within a

subfreezing environmentsubfreezing environment– 1. 1. AtomizationAtomization: Reduces particle size : Reduces particle size

to increase surface area to volume ratio to increase surface area to volume ratio through nozzlesthrough nozzles

– Heat transfer decreases temp of water Heat transfer decreases temp of water to ambient air tempto ambient air temp

– Add compressed air at high velocity Add compressed air at high velocity outside of air nozzlesoutside of air nozzles

How is Snow Made Artificially?How is Snow Made Artificially? 2. Introduce seed particle made of 2. Introduce seed particle made of

bacterial protein to aid in bacterial protein to aid in crystallizationcrystallization– Protein used to catalyze the conversion Protein used to catalyze the conversion

of water to iceof water to ice– Use of catalyst increases freezing temp Use of catalyst increases freezing temp

from 15F-20F to 28Ffrom 15F-20F to 28F

Technology vs. NatureTechnology vs. Nature Efficiency:Efficiency:

– Quiet: 60db can’t be heard past 100mQuiet: 60db can’t be heard past 100m– Low energy consumption & many hours Low energy consumption & many hours

of operation at 15kWof operation at 15kW– Usually use water pressure between 80-Usually use water pressure between 80-

100psi100psi No present technology can match No present technology can match

nature:nature:– Liquid Water Content:Liquid Water Content:

40-50% artificial40-50% artificial1-10% natural1-10% natural

Snowmaking Monitoring System Snowmaking Monitoring System at Mt. Pluto, Lake Tahoeat Mt. Pluto, Lake Tahoe

http://www.ist-snow.com/page2.html

Energy CostsEnergy Costs Temperature:Temperature:

– Energy cost doubles for making snow in 10F up Energy cost doubles for making snow in 10F up to 25Fto 25F

Typical Material Cost Breakdown of a Snowmaking System

http://www.ratnik.com/snowmaking.html

Energy CostsEnergy Costs Water Pressure:Water Pressure:

– Usually use 80-100 psi, cost Usually use 80-100 psi, cost – increases 40% to use 150 psiincreases 40% to use 150 psi

Snowmaking Technology Energy Use Consumption

http://www.areco.com

http://www.ratnik.com/snowmaking.html

Goals of SnowmakingGoals of Snowmaking

– Long distance reachLong distance reach– Minimal chance of freezupMinimal chance of freezup

– Uniform crystal sizeUniform crystal size– Energy efficientEnergy efficient

– Mobile (small, light)Mobile (small, light)– Ranges between blizzard intensity (4in/hr) to Ranges between blizzard intensity (4in/hr) to

mild flurry (1/4in/hr)mild flurry (1/4in/hr)

http://arecosnow.com/Photos

How is Snow Made?How is Snow Made? Water withdrawn from river or lakeWater withdrawn from river or lake Pumped up to holding reservoirPumped up to holding reservoir

http://www.ist-snow.com/Page1

Whiskey’s For Drinkin’, Whiskey’s For Drinkin’, Water’s For Fightin’Water’s For Fightin’

Legal right to divert waterLegal right to divert water– Senior rightsSenior rights– Vail has spent >$1,000,000 acquiring Vail has spent >$1,000,000 acquiring

senior water rightssenior water rights Legal rights for water left in rivers Legal rights for water left in rivers

aren’t recognized in many statesaren’t recognized in many states Highest priority to people that hold Highest priority to people that hold

oldest rightsoldest rights

How Has Snowmaking Effected the How Has Snowmaking Effected the Colorado Ski Industry?Colorado Ski Industry?

Artificial snow in:Artificial snow in:– Colorado: 16%Colorado: 16%– East Coast: 90%East Coast: 90%

109 gal of water used/skier visit109 gal of water used/skier visit To cover an area 500m x 60m 20cm deep, To cover an area 500m x 60m 20cm deep,

need 600mneed 600m33 of snow or 2500m of snow or 2500m33 of water of water

http://www.ist-snow.com/Page4.html

Major Ski Areas in ColoradoMajor Ski Areas in ColoradoUphill Capacity (skiers per hour)

Snowmaking (acres)

Annual Snowfall

Skiable Acres

% Snowmaking Water Source Season

Steamboat 36,195 438 337 2,939 15% Yampa River 11/22/02-4/13/03

Winter Park

35,030

300 369 2,886 10%

Denver Water Boart By-pass

waters 11/13/02-4/23/03Aspen Mountain 10,755 210 300 675 31% Roaring Fork River 11/28/02-4/20/03Aspen Highlands 5,400 110 300 700 16% Roaring Fork River 12/14/02-4/6/02Snowmass 24,840 130 300 3,010 4% Snowmass Creek 11/28/02-4/13/03

Keystone35,175

912 230 1,861 49%Snake River(200,000gal/day), Blue River(215,000gal/day) 11/8/2002-4/20/03

Breckenridge 60,000 540 300 2,043 26% Blue River 11/05/02-4/20/03A-Basin 7,200 125 367 490 26% Snake River 11/12/03-7/4/03Beaver Creek 24,739 536 335 1,625 33% Black Lakes 11/23/02-4/13/03Vail 51,781 563 342 5,289 11% Eagle River, Homestake Res 11/22/02-4/30/02Loveland * 160 400 1,365 12% Clear Creek 10/19/02-5/4/03Crested Butte 18,160 300 240 1,058 37% East River 12/14/02-4/6/03

The Battle for Water:The Battle for Water: Colorado Wild vs. United States Forest ServiceColorado Wild vs. United States Forest Service

Arapahoe Basin: Colorado’s oldest, smallest, and Arapahoe Basin: Colorado’s oldest, smallest, and highest ski areahighest ski area

Located near Loveland Pass on the North Fork of Located near Loveland Pass on the North Fork of the Snake River, a tributary of the Colorado Riverthe Snake River, a tributary of the Colorado River

Court battle: make snow in response to several Court battle: make snow in response to several consecutive dry years and pressure to match consecutive dry years and pressure to match early opening dates of competitorsearly opening dates of competitors

Only major resort as of 1998 not to make snowOnly major resort as of 1998 not to make snow

Biological Effects of Diverting Biological Effects of Diverting WaterWater

Decreased Water Decreased Water QualityQuality

Increased runoffIncreased runoff Fish killsFish kills Decreased wildlife Decreased wildlife

habitathabitat Affected Affected

recreational recreational activitiesactivities

http://mangling.com/C54.htm

Little Snake River at Steamboat Springs

The Water CycleThe Water Cycle Effects of diverting water:Effects of diverting water:

www.epa.gov/seahome/groundwater/src/hydrocyc.htm

Water QualityWater Quality

The North Fork The North Fork dilutes high dilutes high concentrations of concentrations of toxic metals toxic metals downstream in the downstream in the Snake River from Snake River from to acid mine to acid mine drainagedrainage

Cu, Ni, Ur, Pb, ZnCu, Ni, Ur, Pb, Zn

Snake River at Keystone, CO

www.instaar.colorado.edu/SRWTF/

www.abyss.kgs.ku.edu/pls/abyss/pubcat.phd1

Near Baxter Springs, Kansas

RunoffRunoff Increased spring Increased spring

runoffrunoff– RateRate– Volume Volume – durationduration

70-80% returned to 70-80% returned to system as runoffsystem as runoff

Earlier peak Earlier peak dischargedischarge– ErosionErosion– Need for larger Need for larger

storage reservoirsstorage reservoirs

www.migallery.com/Photos/Lake15.jpg

Boulder Brook, CO

Lowflow & Fish KillsLowflow & Fish Kills Water diverted in Water diverted in

the winter, when the winter, when streams are at streams are at their lowest flowtheir lowest flow

Ecosystem Ecosystem extremely sensitive extremely sensitive at this timeat this time– Greenback & Greenback &

Cutthroat TroutCutthroat Troutwww.tu.org

A-Basin’s Struggle to Make A-Basin’s Struggle to Make SnowSnow

A-Basin served as scapegoat to A-Basin served as scapegoat to environmental organizations fighting for environmental organizations fighting for instream flowsinstream flows

Annual Snake River Dishcarge in November (USGS)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Time (Years)

Dis

char

ge (c

fs)

The Court DecisionThe Court Decision Colorado Wild lost lawsuit on the Colorado Wild lost lawsuit on the

basis:basis:– Clean Water Act doesn’t regulate water Clean Water Act doesn’t regulate water

quality impacts from diversions, only quality impacts from diversions, only dischargesdischarges

– Colorado law: water quality standards Colorado law: water quality standards only apply to discharges of pollutantsonly apply to discharges of pollutants

Arapahoe Basin began making snow Arapahoe Basin began making snow November 21, 2002November 21, 2002

The Court Decision: Movement The Court Decision: Movement Towards Instream FlowTowards Instream Flow

A-basin spokesman Alan Henceroth:A-basin spokesman Alan Henceroth:– ““No water diverter in Colorado has ever No water diverter in Colorado has ever

been required to meet such strict been required to meet such strict standards”standards”

The Court DecisionThe Court Decision Arapahoe Basin agreed to:Arapahoe Basin agreed to:

– Contribution of $20,000 for stream Contribution of $20,000 for stream restoration of Snake Riverrestoration of Snake River

– Implement an aquatic biological Implement an aquatic biological monitoring planmonitoring plan

– Bypass wintertime flows in greater Bypass wintertime flows in greater quantities than required by the Colorado quantities than required by the Colorado Water Conservation BoardWater Conservation Board

How Much Does Snowmaking How Much Does Snowmaking Effect the Water Cycle?Effect the Water Cycle?

Colorado Water Usage 1998 (AF)

Irrigation

Storage

Municipalities

Industry

Commercial

Domestic

Stock

Recreation

Fish

Augmentation

RechargeCWCB, 2002

Total Recreation Use: 3,398 AF (0.1%)

Outlook For 2003-2004Outlook For 2003-2004 Colorado Basin predictions call for 80%-89% of average Colorado Basin predictions call for 80%-89% of average

volume runoffvolume runoff Low winter stream flows have caused difficulty in Low winter stream flows have caused difficulty in

administering reservoir releases for snowmakingadministering reservoir releases for snowmaking Increased protection of in-stream flows by monitoring Increased protection of in-stream flows by monitoring

snowmaking diversionssnowmaking diversions Four ski areas have proposed terrain expansions this winterFour ski areas have proposed terrain expansions this winter

www.arecosnow.com/Snowmaking.html

Work CitedWork Cited ““Loveland Ski Areas’ Augmentation Plan,” Leonard Rice Consulting Water Engineers, Inc. Loveland Ski Areas’ Augmentation Plan,” Leonard Rice Consulting Water Engineers, Inc. http://www.lrcwe.comhttp://www.lrcwe.com ““Colorado’s Historic Drought Won’t Affect Snowmaking at most ski areas this season,” The Denver Post. 9/27/02. Pg. C-Colorado’s Historic Drought Won’t Affect Snowmaking at most ski areas this season,” The Denver Post. 9/27/02. Pg. C-

0101 ““Ski Resort, Forest Service Argue for Use of Snowmaking Water From Snake River,” U.S. Water News Online. Nov, 2000. Ski Resort, Forest Service Argue for Use of Snowmaking Water From Snake River,” U.S. Water News Online. Nov, 2000.

http://www.uswaternews.com/archives/arcrights/tskires11.htmlhttp://www.uswaternews.com/archives/arcrights/tskires11.html ““Greens Call Snowmaking a Snow Job,” High Country News. 3/27/00. Greens Call Snowmaking a Snow Job,” High Country News. 3/27/00.

http://www.hcn.org/sevlets.hcn.Article?article_id=5659http://www.hcn.org/sevlets.hcn.Article?article_id=5659 Colorado River Basin Water Use, Growth, & Demand ProjectionsColorado River Basin Water Use, Growth, & Demand Projections. Colorado Water Conservation Board, 2002.. Colorado Water Conservation Board, 2002. Calibration of Snowmaking Equipment for Efficient Use on Virginia’s Smart RoadCalibration of Snowmaking Equipment for Efficient Use on Virginia’s Smart Road. Shea, Edward J. 1999.. Shea, Edward J. 1999. Colorado Water Supply Conditions Update. 2003. Colorado Water Supply Conditions Update. 2003. www.water.state.co.uswww.water.state.co.us http://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/dailydata.htmhttp://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/dailydata.htm Schroeder, William. “Snake River Water Quality Assessment.” EPA.Schroeder, William. “Snake River Water Quality Assessment.” EPA. ““Snowmaking Starts,” Arapahoe Basin Press Release. 11/21/02. Snowmaking Starts,” Arapahoe Basin Press Release. 11/21/02. http://www.arapahoebasin.com/cgi-bin/newsroomhttp://www.arapahoebasin.com/cgi-bin/newsroom ““Water Diversions For Snowmaking…” Water Law Newsletter. 2001. Water Diversions For Snowmaking…” Water Law Newsletter. 2001. http://www.rmmlf.org/pubs/newslettershttp://www.rmmlf.org/pubs/newsletters ““A Dry Legacy,” Trout Unlimited, 2002. A Dry Legacy,” Trout Unlimited, 2002. http://www.tu.orghttp://www.tu.org ““Western Water Campaign,” Trout Unlimited. 2001. Western Water Campaign,” Trout Unlimited. 2001. http://www.tu.org/campaignshttp://www.tu.org/campaigns