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Snowmass To Expand Snowmaking

Dan Bayer

Last week, the Forest Service gave Aspen Skiing Company the go-ahead to expand snowmaking services at Snowmass.

The expansion includes just over 2 miles of pipeline and would add 33 additional acres of snow making  in the Alpine Springs Section of the resort. It would cover the lodgepole and Lunkerville trails as well as Adams Avenue. The operation would draw water from Snowmass Creek and Ziegler reservoir; both are within SkiCo’s water rights.

SkiCo filed the initial application after last season’s disappointing snow. Beaver Creek, Vail and Copper are also expanding snowmaking.

An Environmental Assessment indicated that elk migration corridors  could be disrupted - and the resort would have to take seasonal precautions to protect wildlife.

The public has 45 days to submit objections to the USFS. Barring interruptions, the expansion would start summer 2019.