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FRISCO — It's been a long time in the works, but the Town of Frisco and the Nordic center have finally nailed down the water rights, at least temporarily, to begin making snow on crosscountry trails.
"What we're excited about is learning about snowmaking," said Nordic center operator Gene Dayton, after firing up the snow gun for the first time this week. The complex deal gives the Nordic center five acre-feet of water, enough to cover a 5- to 6-kilometer trail about 20 feet wide and 18 inches deep, Dayton said.
Just like snowmaking at lift-served ski areas, the process involves mixing compressed air and water and spraying out through a nozzle, allowing the tiny droplets to crystallize in the cold air.
Dayton said snowmaking will help ensure more consistent coverage and seasonal operations at the Nordic center. With the snowmaking, he hopes to have at least some terrain open for Thanksgiving each year.
The town and the Nordic center first eyed snowmaking several years ago. Frisco has a strong portfolio of senior water rights, but the plan hit a snag when officials realized that the existing water rights didn't allow for snowmaking.
"We needed to get a temporary water supply plan approved through the State Engineer's Office," said Frisco public works director Tim Mack. "The original water right didn't include snowmaking. It's all on a temporary basis right now, but it allows to make snow this season," Mack said.
"What we're excited about is learning about snowmaking," said Nordic center operator Gene Dayton, after firing up the snow gun for the first time this week. The complex deal gives the Nordic center five acre-feet of water, enough to cover a 5- to 6-kilometer trail about 20 feet wide and 18 inches deep, Dayton said.
Just like snowmaking at lift-served ski areas, the process involves mixing compressed air and water and spraying out through a nozzle, allowing the tiny droplets to crystallize in the cold air.
Dayton said snowmaking will help ensure more consistent coverage and seasonal operations at the Nordic center. With the snowmaking, he hopes to have at least some terrain open for Thanksgiving each year.
The town and the Nordic center first eyed snowmaking several years ago. Frisco has a strong portfolio of senior water rights, but the plan hit a snag when officials realized that the existing water rights didn't allow for snowmaking.
"We needed to get a temporary water supply plan approved through the State Engineer's Office," said Frisco public works director Tim Mack. "The original water right didn't include snowmaking. It's all on a temporary basis right now, but it allows to make snow this season," Mack said.
Getting permanent approval requires just a few more administrative steps through the State Engineer's Office. Down the road, the Nordic center and the town could conceivably use more water to expand snowmaking coverage on the trail system, Mack said.
Getting the go-ahead involved both Denver Water and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which governs operations of Green Mountain Reservoir. The agreement involves future use of Frisco's rights to water in Dillon Reservoir, and that comes at a price. The town must repay Denver Water with 1.58 acre-feet of water for every acre-foot it uses, a 58 percent surcharge. An acre-foot is about 320,000 gallons of water, about enough to supply a four-person household for a year, or to cover one acre 12-inches deep.
Getting the go-ahead involved both Denver Water and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which governs operations of Green Mountain Reservoir. The agreement involves future use of Frisco's rights to water in Dillon Reservoir, and that comes at a price. The town must repay Denver Water with 1.58 acre-feet of water for every acre-foot it uses, a 58 percent surcharge. An acre-foot is about 320,000 gallons of water, about enough to supply a four-person household for a year, or to cover one acre 12-inches deep.
