Water Infiltration Effects of Recreational Land Use

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Water Infiltration Effects of Recreational Land
Use

• Geog 246 Tom Ditolla Hugh Reece

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Introduction

• What are the effects of Ski areas on the
  mountain?
• Vegetation absorbs ground water that would
  otherwise flow downstream
• Without water infiltration the landscape would be
  altered
• Difference in soil types could also contribute
  due to density and compaction
• Ski resort can create compaction and areas with
  high slope and no vegetation.

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Mad River Glen

• The study sites are well trafficked areas of
  Mad River Glen Ski resort in Waitsfield, VT
• MRG does not make their own snow
• This is private propertyit turns out that you do
  need permission

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Study Site

• The study site is 700 acres. 115 of which are
  ski trails (16.4)

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Objectives

• Measure infiltration rates and bulk density
• Compare data to storm characteristics
• Calculate study site area

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Water Infiltration

• We poured water into the infiltrometer and
  measured the rate at which it was absorbed into
  the ground
• Materials
• Infiltrometer
• Graduated cylinder
• Pitcher
• Knife
• Broken Ski Pole

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Soil Density

• Samples were collected by digging 353 cm3 into
  the ground and keeping the middle 118 cm3. The
  soil was then taken to the lab, where the water
  was extracted
• We then heated the samples in a stove to extract
  the water. That gave us our bulk density rates.
• Materials
• Auger
• Broken ski pole

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Infiltration Rates
The wooded areas were able to absorb water much
faster
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West Branch Precipitation, Stowe VT
Past storm event measurements indicate that the
even the trails can absorb most of the water
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Soil Density
The soil on the ski trails are significantly more
dense
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Data Correlations

• Areas with low density had high infiltration
  rates, while areas with high density had a very
  low infiltration rate

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Discussion

• Large trails can affect the landscape by altering
  the amounts of water it can absorb
• Although the ski trails dramatically change the
  landscapes ability to absorb water, the change is
  not great enough to cause damage
• Understanding specifically what areas are at risk
  and focus on how to lower any negative effects