MYTH Ski trails cause erosion and runoff that pollutes streams.
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FACT New ski run design technologies, which combine on-site inspections with computer modeling, strive for minimal erosion. In summer, slope-reseeding and tree-planting programs help stabilize hillsides, along with manmade walls constructed of indigenous rock and timber. Since alpine soils often lack nutrients, ski areas sometimes add non-invasive fertilizers to encourage natural growth or to prepare the ground for planting native species.
