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, I. THE POTENTIAL FOR AUGMENTATION OF COLORADO'S WATER SUPPLY THROUGH WEATHER MODIFICATION A. Colorado's Limited Water Supply It has been long recognized by Coloradoans that water is a scarce and precious resource in our semi-arid climate. While the supply of surface waters and hydrologically-connected ground water is renewed annually, the amount of water available varies from year to year. In other words, Colorado water supplies are limited, and their availability is subject to fluctuation and uncertainty. Future demands for the limited water supplies will increase primarily due to population growth coupled with rapidly increas- ing energy resources development. The demands for water uses fall into two broad categories: namely, consumptive uses and non- consumptive uses. Consumptive uses include irrigated agriculture, energy conservation processes, coal slurry pipelines, and municipal uses, The nonconsumptive uses are related to the recreation and tourism industry, the generation of hydroelectric power, and include skiing, fishing, kayaking, rafting and simply enjoying the aesthetic attributes of lakes, flowing streams and snowcapped mountains, With the projected population growth and anticipated increases in leisure time, the demand for nonconsumptive uses will continue to grow, The effects of drought conditions will become even more serious when a greater number of users demand their full share of water, As the demand increases it is inevitable that there will be competition for the limited water supplies available at present and in the future, In addition to physical limitations, the amount of water available for consumption in Colorado is affected by interstate compacts, U,S. Supreme Court decisions, and an international treaty, These apportion the flow of the Colorado rivers among the State of Colorado, nine downstream states, and the Republic of Mexico. New water projects like the Central Arizona Project will put an -1-