Fraser River Pump Back Phase 2 and Snowmaking Facilities

For the first time in nearly 50 years, Winter Park Resort (WPR) undertook a major upgrade to its original snowmaking system, which had previously lacked on-site water storage and relied on mountain runoff. To meet the resort’s needs, Garney constructed a new 13-million-gallon (MG) earthen berm dam, two pump stations, a booster station, and several valve houses. These upgrades significantly reduced WPR’s reliance on external water sources while greatly improving the efficiency and capacity of snow production.

Located at the resort’s base, the Fraser River Intake Pump Station—previously built by Garney—draws water into the system and transfers it to the new Canal Pump Station, which then sends it to the storage reservoir. From there, the new Snowmaking Reservoir Pump Station distributes the water to snowmaking equipment throughout the facility. This upgraded infrastructure ensures a consistent water supply during optimal snowmaking conditions and dramatically enhances efficiency, cutting snow production time in half.

Seasonal weather conditions in the mountains required all work to be completed during the warmer months. Over two years, crews worked from spring to late fall, pausing operations during the winter. Crews carefully planned and maximized work during the warmer months to deliver the project on schedule. In addition to weather challenges, limited road access to the new valve house site required a creative approach for the concrete pour. A helicopter transported the concrete directly from the truck to the site, ensuring swift and accurate placement.

Clear communication among Garney, engineer GEI Consultants, WPR, and outside agencies such as the United States Forest Service and Denver Water was key to minimizing disruptions to resort operations. By coordinating schedules and work areas, the team ensured that construction did not interfere with daily resort activities. Through collaboration and problem-solving, the team successfully delivered a reliable and efficient system to serve the resort and its visitors for many ski seasons.