Project Flumserberg Snowmaking 2030 reaches next milestone

The citizens of the Mols Alpine Corporation approved the construction of a natural reservoir on their land near Stellisattel. With this positive decision, the Flumserberg mountain railways can move forward with the "Flumserberg Snowmaking 2030" project and submit the building application. The federal government and the Canton of St. Gallen support the expansion and have pledged financial participation within the framework of the New Regional Policy (NRP).

Ensuring long-term winter operation

“We are delighted with the clear vote of the Mols Alpine Corporation,” says Peter Staub, CEO of the Flumserberg mountain lifts. The Flumserberg ski area extends from an altitude of 1,200 m in Tannenheim to 2,222 m at Leist. The slopes are predominantly north-facing. That these two factors ensure long-term winter operations is confirmed by “Snow Compass,” a publicly accessible tool with scientifically sound data. “To ensure the continued success of the Flumserberg mountain lifts, our motto is ‘Onward with snow sports.’ Investments in artificial snowmaking are a key factor in this,” explains Peter Staub, CEO of the Flumserberg mountain lifts.

More efficient snowmaking through increased performance

The Flumserberg Mountain Railways (BBF) are planning the construction of a natural reservoir with a volume of 98,000 m³, including a pumping station, a cooling tower, and pipelines to connect the reservoir to the existing snowmaking system. The project aims to achieve more efficient snowmaking by increasing the capacity of the existing system. "With the new reservoir on the Maschgenkamm side, it will be possible to cover the main slopes of the entire ski area with snow within 72 hours. With increasingly shorter periods of cold weather, speed is a crucial factor," says Chairman of the Board Guido Mätzler.

The planned location of the Stellisattel natural reservoir is southeast of the existing natural lakes Grosssee and Heusee, east of the Stelli mountain station, at the intersection of several ski slopes leading from Stellisattel. Thanks to the reservoir's location at 1770 m, artificial snowmaking will be possible below 1600 m using natural pressure, meaning no energy input is required. Currently, water is drawn from the Grosssee and Heusee lakes under strict regulations. The new reservoir is intended to reduce the water extraction and storage requirements of these two lakes.

New Regional Policy (NRP)

The federal government and the Canton of St. Gallen are supporting the project with a loan as part of the New Regional Policy. "Flumserberg is the largest winter sports area between Zurich and Chur. It is important for the Canton of St. Gallen and the Sarganserland-Werdenberg region with its cable cars and ski lifts, restaurants, and other tourist attractions. This should remain the case in the future," emphasizes Councillor Beat Tinner, Head of the Department of Economic Affairs