The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced its intention to issue a wastewater discharge permit to Cross Harbor Spanish Peaks Acquisitions (CHSP), LLC for their Spanish Peaks Mountain Club snowmaking operations. This permit, governed by the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) and the Federal Clean Water Act, will allow the facility to use treated domestic wastewater for creating artificial snow on ski runs at Spirit Mountain, Andesite Mountain, and the Spanish Peaks base area.
If approved, the private club, which shares a parent company with the Yellowstone Club, will utilize treated water to create snow on approximately 85 acres of groomed runs. The project will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase using 23 million gallons of treated water per year to create 18-24 inches of snow. The second phase will increase the usage to 44 million gallons annually.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has prepared a draft environmental assessment and is accepting comments on the plan through June 6. Proponents of the technology, including the Gallatin River Task Force, Trout Unlimited, and American Rivers, argue that turning recycled water into snow is better for the environment than releasing it into rivers. The process involves treating the wastewater again through snowmaking equipment and filtering it a third time as it melts and enters the ground.
The effort to turn wastewater into snow in Big Sky dates back over a decade, with successful pilot programs and expansions to permanent snowmaking operations. The Spanish Peaks project will source 100% of its recycled water from the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District wastewater treatment facility.
As the ski industry adapts to climate change, innovative technologies like this offer a promising solution for skiers and the environment alike.
