Pajarito Mountain water pipeline nears completion ahead of ski season

A water pipeline under construction up Pajarito Mountain is nearing completion and is expected to begin pumping water by mid-November, allowing the ski area to open earlier than usual on Dec. 4. The pipeline will carry water to a retention pond at the top of the mountain for snowmaking and fire suppression.

For years, the ski area has relied on hope and natural snow, according to Pajarito Mountain Ski Area Marketing Director Christiana Hudson.

“For many years, Pajarito has really run on hope and natural snow,” Hudson said. “We’ve had very little snow making because that retention pond at the top was at the mercy of runoff and our monsoon seasons.”

The Jemez Mountain Fire Protection Project is a partnership between Los Alamos County and Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, supported by more than $7 million in state grant funding.

The water will be used for fire suppression in the summer and snowmaking in the winter.

Last snow season was rough, and the ski area had to close its slopes earlier than it would have liked, according to Hudson.

“This revolutionizes the seasons to come for Pajarito because that pipeline that will supply water from that holding tank to our pond will be consistent,” Hudson said. “It provides 2,700% more water.”

The expanded snowmaking capability will allow the ski area to open earlier and potentially stay open later, according to the ski area.

The retention pond will also serve as a place for helicopters to pick up water in the event of a wildfire.

“It’s critical to have that infrastructure in place to protect community, and the laboratory too,” said Utilities Manager for Los Alamos County Philo Shelton.

Los Alamos County said the project should be able to start pumping water in the middle of November for snowmaking.