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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2. PROJECT OVERVIEW

2.1 Colorado WDMP Research Project Goal and Objectives

The Colorado Weather Damage Modification Program (WDMP) research
project was joined with the Denver Water (DW) operational orographic cloud-
seeding program in the central Colorado Rocky Mountains for the 2003-2004
winter season. The goal for the research project was to provide a physical
evaluation of the operational winter glaciogenic seeding of orographic cloud
systems using the well-established Colorado State University (CSU) Regional
Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS).

The objectives for the research program were to use RAMS to develop a
belter understanding of the transport and dispersion of seeding materials. and to
provide guidance as to what meteorological conditions are most favorable for
augmenting snowfall from winter orographic cloud systems over the central
Colorado Rocky Mountains. It was not the purpose of this research project to
provide a definitive evaluation of the DW 2003-2004 program's cloud-seeding
effects. Rather. RAMS was to be used in real-time operational forecasts. and in
post-season studies simulating cloud seeding to provide indications for seeding
effects and the types of meteorological conditions favorable for glaciogenic
seeding.

2.2 Denver Water 2003-2004 Operational Cloud-seeding Program

In September 2003, the Denver Water department contracted with WWC
for cloud-seeding activities. For the November 2003 through February 10, 2004
period the program target area was the Blue, Upper Blue, Snake, Williams Fork,
and Upper South Plalte River basins above 9,000 feet elevation. The Blue River
basin is upstream of Green Mountain Reservoir, and includes all streams feeding
Dillon Reservoir, except Tenmile Creek. The location of the intended target area
for the DW 2003-2004 Program is shown in Figure 2.1. The area within the
target boundary was about 3,700 km'. From February 10 through March 2004
only the Upper South Plalte River basin and along the Continental Divide above
the Upper Blue River basin was to be targeted.

A total of 39 cloud-seeding generators were used for the DW 2003-2004
Program (33 from the DW 2002-2003 Program plus 6 from the Vail/Beaver Creek
Program). Four of the DW Program seeding generators were also used for the
adjoining Upper Arkansas River basin program. These 39 WWC cloud-seeding
generator sites are listed in Appendix 1. This appendix includes a map showing
the locations of the sites in relation to the DW Program's target area. Another
change was that the average seeding rate from the 2002-2003 winter cloud-
seeding activities was to be increased by about 50%. The funding level for DW's
2003-2004 cloud-seeding program was $400.000.

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