Challenges in Assessing and Managing Geo-hydrological Risk Related to Natural and Anthropogenic Pressures in Alpine Ski Resorts

Abstract

Alpine ski resorts attract large temporary populations at relatively high altitudes, causing both urban and ski infrastructure development in ecologically vulnerable regions frequently subject to geo-hydrological risk. This study deals with the impacts of urbanization comprising housing, roads, parking and heliports, impacts of ski runs such as slope grooming and drainage and impacts of artificial snow production for example snow grooming, water storage reservoirs and water pipelines in the French and Italian Alps. Ski resort infrastructure is both at risk from natural hazards including landslides, rockfalls, avalanches and floods and from artificially induced hazards related to artificial snow infrastructure and ski slope manipulation for instance landslides, debris flows and erosion. Managing such risks is often only partially successful after 4–5 decades, however many impacts are irreversible. Climate change and intensification of ski resort development is likely to increase geo-hydrological risks in future.