Laserfiche WebLink
Self-Supplied Water Use Information <br />Average Annual Water Demand for Snowmaking <br />Two dozen regional water use studies were reviewed to identify estimates of <br />current and future projected water demand for snowmaking in Colorado <br />counties. Data useful in quantifying and projecting snowmaking water use <br />was found in: <br />• Hydrosphere Resource Consulting, Inc. (HRC Inc.), Upper Colorado <br />River Basin Study, Phase II, Final Report, May 2003. <br />The HRC Inc. findings for "current° and "future° water use attributed to <br />snowmaking are shown in Table 8 for the years 2000 and 2030, respectively. <br />The increase in future, or year 2030, water use for snowmaking accounts for <br />planned expansion of runs at each facility. <br />TABLE 8 <br />ESTIMATES OF CURRENT <br />AND FUTURE SNOWMAKING AT SELECTED <br />COLORADO SKI AREAS <br /> Estimated Average Annual Water Demand <br />for Snowmakin in Acre-feet <br />County Snowmaking Facility 2000 2030 <br />Grand Winter Park Rec. 199 477 <br />Gunnison Mt. Crested Butte 301 500 <br />Summit Ara ahoe Basin 0 350 <br />Summit Ke stone Snake River 485 1157 <br />Summit Co er Mountain Inc. 500 689 <br />Summit Breckenrid e Ski Resort 546 685 <br />verage 406 643 <br />Notes: <br />2000 is equated to "currenY' water demand and 2030 is equated to "future" or "build ouY' water <br />demand. <br />The Copper Mountain Inc. estimate includes irrigation. <br />The Breckenridge Ski Resort estimate includes commercial. <br />Source for Grand and Summit data: Hydrosphere Resource Consulting, Inc. (HRC Inc.), Upper <br />Colorado River Basin Study, Phase II, Final Report, May 2003. <br />Mt. Crested Butte data from conversation with Mr. Dale Massey, Mt. Crested Butte Ski Area. <br />In addition, BBC Research & Consulting provided supplemental information <br />that permitted separation of data by county from their Yampa Valley Water <br />Demand Study (1998). This provided the water use estimates for <br />smowmaking in Routt County. <br />A list of ski areas in Colorado was obtained and each identified ski facility <br />was contacted by phone to verify the county location and to ask if <br />snowmaking occurred at that facility. The resulting number of snowmaking <br />ski facilities by county is shown in Table 9. The numbers of snowmaking <br />facilities in each county are based solely on conversations with various <br />IIL Data CollectionandAnalysis 21 <br />