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<br />(2) To continue to analyze the major impacts that a successful <br />precipitation augmentation program might have on native rangeland and <br />cropland ecosystems of the northern High Plains. <br /> <br />The DNRC transition to the second cooperative agreement was a continued effort <br />to accomplish the goals initiated during the latter phases of the first <br />cooperative agreement. <br /> <br />DNRC's meteorological effort was directed to the establishment of a high <br />quality data base from the PROBE mesonet. Primary emphasis was given to <br />preparing for PROBE mesonet data collection and data handling. In additiotl <br />DNRC's field operation tasks included the disassembly, removal, calibration and <br />inventory of about 100 PROBE weather stations. These PROBE stations combitled <br />in network fashion with about 27 Portable Remote Mesonetwork (PAM) station!! <br />comprised a CCOPE mesonetwork of near 125 units. The National Center for <br />Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, installed and operated the <br />PAM stations and coordinated their respective data handling activities. <br /> <br />Once the mesonet data were computer filed, concentrated data gleaning <br />activities were performed. This aspect of the DNRC program activities required <br />more commitment of resources than originally anticipated because of the <br />inaccurate and inconsistent operating nature of some PROBE instruments and <br />equipment. This major unfortunate circumstance substantially reduced the <br />available time for analyses involving the PROBE data set. Because of the need <br />to first clean up these data, subsequent analyses were limited to case-studies <br />comparing near surface meteorological fields with radar precipitation <br />parameters. <br /> <br />The DNRC associated impact assessment analyses continued to address those <br />unknowns proposed for study during the first cooperative agreement. Several <br />technical reports were prepared describing the improved understanding of t.he <br />impacts that resulted from precipitation augmentation on the native rangeland <br />and cropland of the northern High Plains. <br /> <br />DNRC also provided personnel, including an office manager, to adequatE!ly <br />support both state and BR professional personnel stationed at the Miles City <br />field office. Cooperative maintenance of facilities, shared program support <br />and public information were also provided by DNRC. <br /> <br />Montana's HIPLEX involvement under the second cooperative agreement <br />(Contract No. 1-07-81-V0175) with the Bureau of Reclamation primarily included <br />PROBE data collection and analyses and associated impact study analyses. To <br />complete it's goals, the Department undertook the preparation of several <br />reports and transcripts describing the results of various studies and tasks. <br />The accomplishments of the Department are summarized in this report in two <br />chapters, Meteorological Studies and Ecological Studies. <br /> <br />The Meteorological discussion focuses on the PROBE mesonetwork data <br />collection, handling and analyses. The equipment preparation and operation <br />required the most significant amount of resources. The recruitment, training <br />and scheduling of personnel to accomplish the mesonetwork operation were the <br />primary challenge. The success of the Department's effort can be measured by <br />the 72-90 percent satisfactory PROBE station performance realized during CCOPE <br />operations. <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />i I <br />I <br /> <br />; I <br />