Cloud Seeding News Articles July 1984

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Lamm brands cloud- seeding `destructive' for Coloradans By PETER BLAKE Rocky Mountain News Capitol Bureau A massive federal cloud- seeding pro - gram planned for the Rockies ' would have Coloradans "paying for our own destruction," Gov. Richard Lamm charged Thursday. More water flowing down the Colora- do River might be welcomed in Los Angeles, "but this is where it's going to snow, "Lamm said in his monthly Cabi- net meeting. "We're going to take the impact. What impact is there on Los Angeles?, It's only A benefit there." Lamm was referring to an eight -year, $88 million program called CREST — Colorado River Enhanced Snowpack Test. Promoted by the Bureau of Recla- mation, it's been in the planning stages for years but Congress has been reluc- tant to fund it. David Getches, director of the De- partment of Natural Resources, said at this point there is no extra funding in the program to indemnify Colorado for "damage to wildlife, caved -in roofs, streets clogged, business lost, kids not getting to school." Indeed the Bureau of Reclamation has issued an environmental impact statement proclaiming CREST would have "no significant impact." There's been no,' clear proof of the effects of cloud seeding, Getches said. "It's a test program and we are the guinea pigs." The bureau is trying to get Colorado and other upper basin states to help pay for the program's startup with an initial appropriation out of Colorado River Storage Project funds. Colorado's position is that the lower basin states are the beneficiaries and should bear the cost alone, said Getches. Ultimately the bureau hopes it would be paid for by increased hydroelectric charges down river, Despite Lamm's criticism, the state still hasn't made up its mind whether to oppose the funding or give it conditional support, Getches said. The response must be ratified by the Colorado Water Conservation Board at its meeting Sept. 13. Even if Congress does make an initial appropriation, the cloud seeding in the central Colorado and San Juan Moun- tains wouldn't begin before the winter of 1985 -86, Getches said. "It is a testing program to see if the technology, works as well � as everyone thinks and to work on a lot of these legal issues," said Clifford Barrett, the Bu- reau of Reclamation's operations man- ager for the Upper Basin. "An agreement to enter into a testing program is different than entering into a long term cloud seeding program," he said. "It is not as if you are making a forever commitment. There are all these other issues we have to settle." Aug. 31, 1984, Denver, Colo. Rocky Mountain News -9 We're going to take the impact. What impact is there on Los . Angeles? It's only a benefit there. Gov. Richard D. Lamm