WMOD00592

• Project Name: Project Skywater
• Title: Project Skywater - Final Environmental Statement - Volume I
• Date: 1/1/1977
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

The objectives of the Uinta Ecology Project are to formulate
and test hypotheses for determining changes in regional veg-
etation resulting from changing snowpack, ana to develop rec-
ommendations for monitoring procedures applicable to long-
term cloud seeding research in the Upper Colorado River Basin,
with particular emphasis on the Uinta Mountains.

The literature pertaining to the ecological effects of weather
modification (especially snow augmentation) on natural environ-
ments, agriculture, and other variables was reviewed, identi-
fying not only those effects that are well understood and will
not require additional work, but also those which will need
further attention. Available data concerning the variety and
extent of the natural ecosystems of the Uinta Mountains is
being assembled and will be reported in map and tabular form.
Attention will be given to plants, animals (wild and domesti-
cated), local climates, and current human activities in the
area. The investigation will also include such areas as the
economic effect of changes in native species of poisonous plants
(such as larkspur) on livestock.

In order to formulate and test hypotheses for determining
changes in regional vegetation with changing snowpack, a net-
work of six vegetation oonitoring sites has been established
in four ecosystens tilat are especially widespread above 2300 r.:
(7500 ft) m.s.l. The ecosystems being studied are: alpine
tundra, subalpine meadows, spruce-fir forests, and lodgepole
pine forests. The monitoring network is on the north slope of
the Uinta ~ountains. Figure 1-8 depicts several of the areas
selected for study.

In each of the 6 ecosysten study areas, 20 to 25 study sites
(rnacroplots) have been established. Canopy cover and vigor-
class will be taken for herbaceous species. Shrubby species
and tree reproduction will be sampled for cover, density, height,
and vigor. Trees will be inventoried with respect to species,
size, and state of health. Sets of quadrats will be placed
randomly to evaluate annual aboveground production in each oacro-
plot. Since the monitoring sites in each ecosystem are estab-
lished along gradients of lateness of snowmelt, the above
sampling should permit predictions about the effects of snow-
pack persistence on composition and production of native veg-
etation and on selected aninals such as pocket gophers. Snow-
pack parameters for each macroplot will be obtained from rods
that stand above the deepest snowpack likely to form on the
site. The local climate at the general study area is presently
being monitored. ~IDre permanent site characteristics such as

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