Ski resort tries to curtail evaporation from snowmaking reservoir
By Sandra Emerson, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Ron Ellingson will be watching the Mt. Baldy reservoir closely this ski season. The 10-million-gallon reservoir is used to make snow during the ski season and like any body of water, succumbs to evaporation, but for Ellingson, president of Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts Inc., the evaporation means higher costs and less snow for skiers.
Ron Ellingson, president of Mt. Baldy, is using hollow plastic conservation balls on his snowmaking reservoir. Photo/Provided
So, to keep costs down and provide more snow to visitors, Ellingson contracted with Glendora-based manufacturer XavierC LLC, to install hollow plastic conservation balls to reduce the evaporation.
The balls are 4 inches in diameter and float along the top of the reservoir to reduce evaporation by up to 90 percent.
As the water level rises and lowers, the balls adjust by piling on top of each other or by spreading out across the surface.