Mountain railway company supplies Swiss alpine pasture with water

Heat has nearly dried up springs and streams at the Hitzeggen alpine pasture in Graubünden, Switzerland, prompting the Obersaxen Mundaun mountain railway company to fill the cattle’s water troughs with a snow cannon, ORF reported.

Herdswoman Sandra Herger is receiving the water so the cattle do not have to be brought down to the valley early. The three troughs are being filled with a total of 4,500 litres of water.

For the mountain railway company, that is a relatively small amount: its reservoir holds up to 35,000 cubic metres. Water is pumped only between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the company’s photovoltaic installation supplies the electricity.

The assistance also serves the company’s interests. Farmers own the alpine land that forms part of the ski area in winter, so the company depends on their goodwill for winter operations.

Herger told ORF Vorarlberg that if climate change eventually makes snowmaking impossible, the snow cannons could continue to be used to supply water for alpine farming.

Feed is also becoming scarce. The grass in the meadows is more reminiscent of hay, and the immediate priority is to get the animals safely through the heatwave.

Swiss farmers are also receiving support from the federal government. Since August 1, no customs duties have been charged on hay imports.