Big Sky Becomes Montana’s First Public Ski Area with Recycled Water Snowmaking
The winter sports landscape in the Mountain West is changing. As a matter of fact, seasons are becoming warmer and drier, creating pressure on mountain communities that rely on consistent snowpack. In response, Big Sky Resort is stepping up to lead the charge for sustainability. The resort, specifically the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club, a private residential club that is part of Big Sky, has received final approval from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to use highly treated recycled water for base layer snowmaking. This initiative makes Big Sky the first public ski area in Montana to utilize powder made from what was once municipal wastewater.
The Need for Innovation in Headwaters Communities
Big Sky sits high in a headwaters community, meaning its water resources are critical for downstream users and the local ecosystem, including the famous Gallatin River. Historically, communities often discharge treated wastewater directly into local rivers. However, for more than 25 years, the Big Sky community has supported water reuse and a commitment to zero direct discharge into the Gallatin River.
Consequently, Big Sky has invested in a new, state-of-the-art water treatment facility. This facility produces "Class A-1" reclaimed water, which is the highest classification recognized by the state. The effort demonstrates the community's dedication to water stewardship.
Snowmaking as Environmental Stewardship
The idea might sound unconventional at first. Nevertheless, using recycled water for snowmaking is a science-backed solution that offers multiple environmental benefits.
- Conservation: This practice conserves the fresh water that rivers and communities depend on. Instead of taking clean water from aquifers or the river, water is recycled back to the mountains.
- Recharging the Aquifer: The highly treated water is sprayed onto the slopes as snow, a process that provides a third layer of treatment. As the compacted snowpack melts later in the spring and summer, it filters into the ground, recharging the aquifer and supporting streamflows during critical dry months. This increase in late-season water flow improves riparian and river health.
- Protection for the Gallatin: Conservation groups, including the Gallatin River Task Force and American Rivers, have praised the project. They note that the process protects the Gallatin River by mitigating the adverse impacts of a changing climate and ensuring Big Sky remains a zero-discharge community.
The project will roll out in two phases, starting with up to 23 million gallons of treated wastewater per year, eventually reaching a maximum of 44 million gallons annually. The recycled water will create a crucial base layer on sections of Spirit and Andesite mountains, as well as the Spanish Peaks base area.
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Leading the Way
Big Sky joins over a dozen other ski resorts across eight states and several international operations already using reclaimed water for snowmaking. The nearby private Yellowstone Club was Montana's first to adopt this method in 2023. Now, Big Sky is setting the standard for sustainable mountain operations in the public sphere.
As the Vice President of Environmental Operations for Lone Mountain Land Company stated, they are hopeful this technology will one day become a standard practice in headwater states that are seeing less snowpack each year. For the TGR community, which lives for the thrill of the mountains and the health of the wild spaces that define them, this commitment to a more resilient, sustainable winter is a massive win.
