WMOD00268

• Applicant: CWCB
• Sponsor Name: USBR
• Project Name: Final Report Weather Damage Mitigation Program
• Title: Numerical Simulations of Snowpack Augmentation for Drought Mitigation Studies in the Colorado Rocky Mountains
• Prepared For: USBR - WDMP
• Prepared By: Curt Hartzell, Dr. William Cotton, Joe Busto
• Date: 9/1/2005
• State: CO
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Scientific Study

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and presented packet of information meant to encourage conversations among
decision makers that included: a memo entitled "Large Scale WM Programs for
Managing Water Supply", a memo supporting this concept from NAIWMC Chair,
Arlen Huggins (Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada), a snowpack map of
April 1 Snow Water Equivalent in western states, a graphic of current programs,
and a weather modification FAQ sheet. The snowpack map was meant to give
some means to plan for and mitigate drought through enhanced wintertime
weather modification.

Also In June 2005 Colorado Congressman Mark Udall responded to the
CWCB request by the introduction of HR 2995 a companion bill to S. 517. In July
2005 as follow up to the CWCB request at the Western Governor's Association
meeting the Western States Water Council passed a resolution (position 264)
supporting advancement in weather modification at a business meeting in
Seattle, Washington. Also interesting was the WSWC position 265 that requests
the $6 Billion in the Reclamation Fund be used as intended for water
development projects. In August 2005 honoring Congressman Udall's request
the CWCB passed another weather modification resolution supporting both bills
(HR 2995 and S. 517), requested more state representation on these "boards".

Large scale weather nodification is being discussed at local, state and
federal levels well. In August 2005 there was a Colorado 7-Basin States Meeting
in San Diego, California. The issue revolves around low flow year criteria and
operations within the Colorado River Basin related to Lake Powell and Lake
Mead. All of the 7- Basin states were tasked with looking at some form of water
augmentation activities like desalinization, reservoir operations, weather
modification, and tamarisk control. Colorado and Utah will be working together to
create a "weather modification white paper" that will ultimately be put together
with other white papers and sent as a letter with recommendations to the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation and the Secretary of Interior Gale Norton.

Weather modification research and operations in "headwaters" states will
become increasing important as approximately 80% of western states water
comes directly from snowpack. Recently the CWCB conducted a study of
current and future water needs in Colorado. The Statewide Water Supply
Investigation (SWSI) forecasts water shortages in every major river basin and an
inability to meet water needs by 2030; in fact very few water providers have
identified water supplies beyond 2030. The SWSI process identified tremendous
pressure on agriculture to meet current and future municipal water demands. In
addition, the SWSI process identified an 80% - 20% solution/problem. This
means that even if the most optimistic scenario unfolds and water users are able
to implement all available and known water resource projects and programs, they
could at best meet 80% of their future water needs. This leaves 20% of our
needs unmet and there clearly is a problem. Weather modification research and
operations in basins above areas with forecasted population growth and water
shortages has the ability to keep agriculture viable and provide an economical

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