No Major Concerns Surface at Public Meeting on Ski Area Water Pipeline Permit

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on August 26, 2014
- 5:05 pm

Scott Price of the Sipapu Group answers questions from the audience at Monday’s meeting at Trinity on the Hill as Espanola District Ranger Sandy Hurlocker and County Administrator Harry Burgess listen at right. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Community members gather Monday evening for the public meeting at TOTH. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARK

Los Alamos Daily Post

No major concerns were brought to light at Monday’s public meeting on the Ski Area Water Pipeline Permit, which drew nearly 100 people.

“When we started this process in June, we looked critically at what might stop it and quite frankly we haven’t found anything … if anyone sees some flaw in our design – that’s what we’re here for,” Española District Ranger Sandy Hurlocker said.

Hurlocker asked for local concerns and suggestions about the project during Monday’s 90-minute meeting at Trinity on the Hill Church.

“The main point tonight is to hear the concerns you have about the project … questions we’ve been getting include how it’s going to be engineered, how it’s going to be put in, how long it’s going to be there,” Hurlocker said.

Española District Ranger Sandy Hurlocker presents details about the temporary pipeline permit. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

He explained that the proposal being considered by the Española Ranger District is to permit a 4-inch, high-density polyethylene, 6.8-mile long pipeline to be temporarily located on National Forest in order to pump water from the Los Alamos Reservoir and a Los Alamos County water tank to the privately owned Pajarito Ski Area.

Water sources being considered are the Los Alamos Reservoir and Los Alamos County’s potable water tank. The proposal would authorize for no more than one year the installation of a temporary water pipeline and pumps to move 5 million gallons from Los Alamos Reservoir and another 5 million gallons from County’s potable water tank at the base of Camp May Road to the parking area at Pajarito Mountain. From there, existing permanent infrastructure would take the water to the existing 10-million-gallon pond near the mountain top.

The water will be stored at the ski area for snow making in 2014 and potentially for firefighting efforts in 2015, Hurlocker said.

A categorical exclusion is being sought for the project because it is temporary and the pipe will sit above ground – no digging will be involved. There will be pump stations placed along the way to mute the sound, he said.

Seven of the 10 million gallons of water will be used for three or four top to bottom runs. The remaining 3 million gallons will be held in reserve, Pajarito Ski Hill Manager Tom Long said.

Scott Price of the Sipapu Group explained that the goal is to obtain the necessary approvals and permits and complete the project by mid October. Once the pumps are turned on they will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week and take about 24 days for the water to reach the ski area pond, he said.

“In the meantime, we are exploring a permanent solution, whether it be digging a well, installing a permanent pipeline or something else,” Price said.

An audience member stated that he thought this project was “a wholly appropriate use of forest land” and commended the creativity involved, to which the audience broke out in loud applause.

The Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce issued a statement strongly encouraging its members to support this project, saying that the temporary pipeline will enable the Sipapu Group to operate snow cannons on Pajarito and open the ski area this year. Also, saying that Sipapu will provide recreational skiing for the local residents as well as attract ski tourists who will contribute to the local economy through the restaurants, hotels and retail shops.

The Española Ranger Station is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For questions about the Pajarito Water Pipeline project, contact Lynn Bjorklund at 505.753.7331. Review project documents here.