Crystal Mountain Expansion Plan Back on Track
Crystal and District Planners Meet to Discuss Development Issues

February 23, 2007, Westbank, B.C. - Crystal Mountain Ski and Golf Resort met with district planners from the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) this past Wednesday at a development workshop to review its expansion plan.  The workshop was held at the direction of the Board of Directors’ Planning and Environment Committee. Good progress was made on issues concerning water and sewer, and watershed impacts.

Crystal Mountain’s expansion plan has been designed with environmental sustainability as a primary objective and much of the discussions focused on water supply and sewage.  Rob Parkinson of McElhanney Consulting Services, consultant for Crystal Mountain, presented details from the Master Plan with regards to water demand, supply and storage.  To greatly reduce the amount of water used at the resort, Crystal is proposing a state-of-the-art tertiary treatment plant that enables the use of recycled water for golf course irrigation and occasional snowmaking. 

Crystal’s proposed expansion plan describes a water supply system which will result in less wastage than older and more conventional systems.  The water necessary to supply its expansion is obtainable via groundwater – either via multiple wells, or (as is planned) by one or two wells in combination with stored and recycled water that has been treated by the tertiary treatment plant.  The wells are located on the north side of Mount Last to ensure there is no interference with groundwater currently accessed near upper Glenrosa.

Water from the wells will be moved to storage reservoirs as shown in the project plans and, as is common to most modern golf courses, irrigation water will be also be stored as “water hazards” along the golf course.  Stored and reused water will be available as an emergency fire-fighting source.  A well drilling program was implemented to produce evidence of water availability.

Productive test wells indicated that geotechnical and engineering assumptions were as anticipated and that there is enough water for a resort of this type.  A Supplementary Water Demand and Supply Assessment Report from McElhanney Consulting Services produced for the workshop to highlight water issues from the expansion plan states there is a total anticipated supply of potable water of 166,000 m³ per year and a total anticipated supply for irrigation of 190,000 m³ per year.  This is based on a proven supply of water from an existing well, the test well, additional non-potable water available from the Sitmar Creek license for irrigation and anticipated yields from additional wells.   The estimated water demands of the expansion at full build out are 144,200 m³ per year for potable water and 142,800 m³ for golf course irrigation and indicate that there is sufficient water for a resort of this type.  

“The water and sewer design, as proposed in the expansion plan, is preferred - both from an environmental and an economical point of view because it is proven to result in the smallest amount of water and energy use for a project of this nature and will make the expansion more sustainable,” said Scott Henderson, communications director, Crystal Mountain.

The use of a tertiary treatment plant and recycled water, as well as comprehensive water conservation methods and technologies as outlined in Crystal Mountain’s expansion plan are similar (but more comprehensive) to those utilized at Sun Peaks and other mountain resorts with proven results. Not using recycled water for golf course irrigation would increase overall water requirements by approximately 43%.

Crystal has sought the best possible designs for providing water and other utilities to its expanded resort and has proposed using Corix, a B.C. based utility, to provide distribution, operations and maintenance of water and water related services. Corix can provide bundled resort utility services including geothermal energy service, to provide additional advantages for energy efficiency and cost synergies across the resort.  Crystal is also open to working with the Westbank Irrigation District (WID) and as a result of this week’s workshop a meeting will be arranged between Corix, WID and Crystal to explore possible benefits of working together to provide water services for the resort.  In addition, the workshop resulted in follow up meetings with District Planners regarding parks and environmental assessment issues.

“There are still several T’s to be crossed and I’s to be dotted,” said Henderson, “But significant progress was made at the workshop and we look forward to working with the District and other stake holders to ensure a timely review process for the expansion at the regional government level.”

Online Media Centre @ www.dhzmedia.ca/page439.htm
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Crystal Mountain Ski and Golf Resort Inc.
(www.crystalresort.com)

Crystal Mountain Ski and Golf Resort (Crystal) is planning an expansion to add 12 new ski lifts and an 18-hole Signature Golf Course, making the resort a year-round facility. Crystal’s expansion plan is intended to create a world class resort that will showcase and protect this special area of the Okanagan for residents of Westbank and visitors to the Okanagan. It believes a year round tourist destination will provide social and economical benefits to the region.

Media contact:

Scott Henderson
dHz Media
+1.403.921.2001
scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca

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