Impact of Construction and Functioning of a Newly Built Ski Slope on the Quality of Nearby Stream Water

Abstract

The construction of new, artificially snowed, ski slopes and the accompanying infrastructure changes the natural environment and exerts pressure on the ecosystems. This study examined the impact of the construction and operation of a new ski slope, with its infrastructure and artificial snow production, on the quality of nearby stream waters. The research period covered the time before, during and after the slope construction. Electrolytic conductivity (EC) and pH were measured on-site, chemical analyses included the determination of Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3−, SO42−, Cl−, NO3−, and microbiological analysis comprised mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria, total and fecal coliforms, and E. coli. As a result of intensive environmental transformations, the examined parameters varied significantly over the study period, as shown by the coefficient of variation. Due to land cover changes, concentrations of all the examined parameters increased during the ski slope construction due to ions and bacteria leaching from the soil. However, when construction works were finished, all bacterial and some chemical indicators returned to the state observed before the construction, most probably due to the recovery of vegetation and self-purification of water. Supply of melt water from artificial snow, produced from water containing higher concentrations of ions, increased pH, EC, Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3− in the stream. Providing that the development of ski stations is unavoidable in the considered region, conducting studies assessing the impact of new ski slope construction is an important step that should be conducted prior to undertaking such investments.