Impact of ski run construction on atypical channel head development

The development of ski infrastructure in mountainous areas has a significant impact on the development of erosion landforms and modification of existing landforms on slopes. The main purpose of our study was to determine the effects of ski run construction and artificial snowmaking on the development of channel heads and drainage lines as well as pattern of processes occurring along longitudinal profile of stream channel. The research was performed in the Remiaszów catchment on two ski runs in the Białczańska Kotelnica ski area (the Polish Inner Carpathians). Analysis of the location of the channel head of the Remiaszów Stream catchment over time was performed on the basis of multi-temporal DEMs generated using high resolution LiDAR data. The data were obtained via two ALS scans (Airborne Laser Scanning): before the 2013 and after 2016 ski run construction, as well as TLS (Terrestrial Laser Scanning) conducted in 2017 and in the course of fieldwork in 2018 using GPS RTK. The construction of ski runs leads to the formation of new channel heads, all of which develop in drainage ditches. Three distinct zones emerge in the longitudinal profile: 1) artificially concentrated flow zone, 2) forced, dispersed flow zone, 3) rejuvenated, concentrated flow zone. This means that two channel head formation zones become available in the longitudinal profile. Large inflows of water (200% or more) due to artificial snowmaking lead to bidirectional development of the valley network. In general, identification of the channel head pattern in area of ski run construction play important role in understanding of the sustainable development of mountain ecosystem.