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STATE OF COLORADO <br /> • Colorado Water Conservation Board ,coNSF�L <br /> ya (r,r <br /> Department of Natural Resources 0 t� ' s <br /> 1J <br /> 1580 Logan Street,Suite 600 3 1 <br /> Denver,Colorado 80203 °� l v J, <br /> Phone:(303)866-3441 °J_ . � <br /> Fax:(303)894-2578 1H <br /> www.cwcb.state.co.us 153 <br /> John W.Hickenlooper <br /> Governor <br /> TO: Finance Committee Mike King <br /> DNR Executive Director <br /> Colorado Water Conservation Board <br /> James Eklund <br /> CWCB Director <br /> FROM: Joe Busto, Weather modification Program Coordinator <br /> Watershed Protection and Flood Mitigation Section <br /> DATE: September 13, 2013 <br /> SUBJECT: Non-Reimbursable Investments Item #2 <br /> Weather Modification—Water User Cost Share Assistance <br /> Introduction <br /> The CWCB has had grants to locally sponsored winter ground based cloud seeding programs <br /> since 2004. This was at the request of water users that starting sponsoring cloud seeding <br /> programs after the sustained drought of the early 2000s. Currently there are seven permitted <br /> programs operated by three different permit holders. Since 2007 every year downstream water <br /> users in NM, NV, AZ, and CA provide grants to the CWCB match with our funding. Over <br /> forty entities partner in cloud seeding programs in the Upper Colorado, Grand Mesa, <br /> Gunnison, and Southwestern basins. New programs have been developed, new equipment has <br /> been deployed new evaluation and refinement studies are underway. We also have updated <br /> WM Rules enacted in 2012 that also help support growth, development, and competition for <br /> this type of work. Staff believes the CWCB funds leverages funds from four other states to <br /> provide grants and technical assistance to our locally sponsored cloud seeding programs. For <br /> every dollar CWCB spends it leverages five dollars. Additional snowpack in our high <br /> mountain areas provides numerous benefits to the environment, recreation and water users. <br /> Staff Recommendation <br /> Staff recommends that the Board request the General Assembly authorize $175,000 from the <br /> Construction Fund to be appropriated to the CWCB for the Weather Modification Program. <br /> • <br /> Interstate Compact Compliance•Watershed Protection•Flood Planning&Mitigation•Stream&Lake Protection <br /> Water Project Loans&Grants•Water Modeling•Conservation&Drought Planning•Water Supply Planning <br />