WMOD00565

• Title: Snow Augmentation Research Needs - A History of Weather Modification in Colorado
• Date: 6/1/1982
• State: CO
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

The purpose of the first agreement was to prepare research and development
plans for activities within the state of Colorado and to coordinate activities
pert aining to increasing streamflow in the Co lorado and adjacent river. basins
with other involved states, agencies and institutions.

The second agreement's purpose is to continue cooperative federal, state and
local efforts in developing a scientifically sound and socially acceptable
technology for reducing impacts of droughts and providing increased flow in the
Colorado River.

Activities conducted with the cooperative agreement funds include research and
support costs of program coordination and development.

Supplemental State Appropriations for Emergency Drought Relief Projects

The legislature appropriated supplemental funds for emergency drought relief
seeding in the winters of 1977 and 1978. Serious drought concerns developed
early in January 1977 when the major river systems of the state were not
expected to produce over fifty percent of the long-term average flow during the
coming summer. Experts in the use and evaluation of winter weather modification
testified at the committee hearings. The projects were supported by the
governor, and policy makers predicted that economic gain would be greater than
project cost. Thus, cloud seeding was seen as one potential means of
alleviating serious economic effects of drought.

A. Drought Relief in 1977 - House Bill No. 1160

This bill provided a supplemental appropriation of $187,000 to the Department
of Natural Resources for weather modification to increase mountain snowpack
from early February until mid-May 1977. Ta.rget areas were the San Juan,
Climax, and North Front Range mountains. The appropriation was supplemented by
non-state funds in the amount of $62,000 for a total financial program of
$249,000.

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