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1 EXHIBIT A OPERATIONS PLAN CONTINOUS UPPER GUNNISON RIVER WINTER CLOUD SEEDING PROGRAM 1. Description of the Objectives of the Proposed Project The objective of the proposed project is to augment the precipitationlsnowpack that occurs with the passage of late fall. winter and spring storms over the intended target areas. This project would be a continuation of an earlier program conducted in the same area during the winters of 2002 -2007. 2. Description of the Tare:et Area and the Area Reasonablv Expected to be Affected bv the Project The primary target area is defined as those mountainous areas above 9000 feet msl located in Gunnison County, northern Hinsdale and northern Saguache Counties. The proposed primary target area constitutes much of the upper Gunnison River Drainage that contributes streamfow to Blue Mesa Reservoir. Figure 1 provides a map of the proposed primary target area. There will be some positive (increases in precipitation) effects downwind of this primary target area. These effects will occur primarily on the eastern slopes of the Elk Mountains, the eastern slopes of the Sawatch Range, the eastern slopes of the Cochetopa Hills, and the southern slopes of the La Garita Mountains. 3. Description of How the Project Will be Implemented and Carried Out Operational seeding decisions of when and which ground based generators should be utilized during specific storm occurrences will be made from North American Weather Consultants, Inc.(NAWC) headquarters located at 8180 South Highland Dr., Ste. B-2, Sandy, Utah. This headquarters is equipped with four personal computers with T -1 access to the internet. A variety of weather products, available through the internet, will be monitored to assist in making these seeding decisions. These products, most of which are provided by the National Weather Service (NWS) will include: weather satellite (infra-red and visual) photos, surface charts, constant pressure charts (i.e. 700,500 mb), upper-air rawinsonde observations (weather balloons), NEXRAD weather radar information, surface weather reports (typically available at hourly intervals), NWS weather forecasts and prognostic (forecast) charts ofa variety of weather parameters. NA WC meteorologists will monitor the above information to determine ifNA WC's generalized cloud seeding criteria are met and, if so. which generators should be operated. NA WC's generalized seeding criteria are provided in Table 1. These criteria have been developed based upon practical considerations plus the results from previous winter orographic (mountainous) weather modification research programs.