WMOD00283 ‎(2)‎

• Title: Evidence of Interest and Capability for Supporting the Colorado State University Year-round Cloud Seeding Research Project Near Climax Colorado
• Prepared For: Mr. W. L. Garfield, CSU
• Prepared By: Western Scientific Services, Inc.
• Date: 1/29/1973
• County: Montrose
• State: CO
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

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2.1 Colorado River Basin Pilot Project

The Colorado River Basin Pilot Project is a vital weather modification re-
search effort of the Bureau of Heclamation's Atmospheric Water Resources
program. 'The objective of this pilot project is to adapt weather modifi-
cation technology and develop operational procedures for wintertime
precipitation management over large areas utilizing cloud seeding
techniques.

In November, 1968, WSSI was awarded the contract for obtaining surface
measurements of meteorological parameters for the Colorado River Basin
Pilot Project. The objectives of the meteorological data collection
program are:

To procure and install a nE~twork of instruments for describing
the distribution and variation of precipitation, wind, tempera-
ture, and other microphYSical parameters.

To operate the instrument network from October 15 through
May 15 of each year and to collect data of high quality.

To reduce these data concurrently with collection to digital.
format for computer processing.

To compile a comprehensiv~ report of data collected from
pilot project instruments and from other sources within and
downwind of the San Juan Mountains for subsequent use in
evaluating the effects of cloud seeding.

To perform preliminary analyses of data related to character-
istics and distribution of precipitation and other meteorological
parameters over the pilot project area in the San Juan Mountains.

The project area embraces 3,300 square miles in the San Juan Mountain
Range of southwestern Colorado. The runoff from these mountain water-
'sheds flows into Colorado River. Much of the area is above 9,500 feet
elevation, and it is here that additional snowfall is sought. The location
of this project area is shown as the South Project Area in Figure 1 (P. 5).

Meteorological measurements have also been collected in two additional
areas of Colorado in conjunction with the Pilot Project. These two areas
.are: the North Project Area within the upper basin of the Colorado River,
and the Benchmark Project Area within the Park Range east of Steamboat
Springs, Colorado (see Figure 1). Data obtained from these two areas
will serve as background information for future precipitation management
projects.

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