Finance Committee Meeting 2011

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/2011
• Description: 2011 Finance Sub-Committee Meeting
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board \\,,R C0Nvie
Department of Natural Resources o of <o t--io
1313 Sherman Street,Room 721 ° •.
Denver,Colorado 80203
Phone:[phone] 0 � '
Fax:[phone] ( 876 ,O
www.cwcb.state.co.us \ 31
John W.Hickenlooper
Governor
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Mike King
DNR Executive Director
FROM: Joe Busto, Weather Modification Program Coordinator
Jennifer L.Gimbel
CWCB Director
DATE: September 2, 2011
SUBJECT: Non-Reimbursable Investments
Weather Modification Program—Water User Cost Share Assistance
Introduction
The CWCB has operated the states weather modification permitting program since 1987. The primary
state authorities are permits for accurate information and ongoing monitoring of criteria for
curtailment. In 2004 grants were developed by staff at the request of water users that were sponsoring
permits to augment water supplies. In 2007 agreements were signed with downstream states of the
Colorado River for more funding. In 2008 the CWCB adopted a strategic plan that was a mix of
grants, new equipment, and studies.
Discussion
The previous six winters $2.7M (63%)was spent on winter cloud seeding by ski areas and local
agencies, $810,000 by the CWCB (19%), and $799,300 (18%)by the downstream water users. The
request to the CWCB Members is for$175,000 and has been the same for the three previous years. The
new request to downstream water users is being developed and will be approximately$167,000. This
combined state and regional funding has led to several new specialized weather stations to guide seeding
decisions and evaluate the efficacy and new high output machines at Winter Park, the Grand Mesa and
Mancos Mountain in the San Juan Mountains that dispense four times the traditional rate of solution.
Funding also extends the months programs operate as typically local funds can purchase about two to
three months of seeding time. There are about 105 ice nuclei generators spread around the state. Grants
are dispersed to benefit, the Gunnison, Southwestern, Grand Mesa, and the Upper Colorado River basin.
Very recently led by Denver Water the Front Range Water Council developed a collaboration of seven
water providers and four ski areas along the I-70 corridor for the upcoming winter 2011-12. It is staff's
opinion that CWCB and Lower Basin funding creates local interest. Denver Water requested $40,000
each from the Lower Basin and CWCB and their new total program should be about $232,000 total.
At the Grand Mesa program: there is a new meteorologist, Grand Junction Water Treatment Plant staff
operate cloud seeding machines remotely from a computer, and there is new interest from Powderhorn
Ski area based on this retooled and well managed program. Alcoholized propane seeding on the
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