Board Meeting Memorandum 09/08/2003 ‎(B)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 9/8/2003
• Description: Non Reimbursable Investments Weather Modification Program Demonstration Projects
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Boardt '
• Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street,Room 721
Denver,Colorado 80203 j a
Phone:[phone] +:,z
FAX:[phone] t t,
www.cwcb.state.co.us
MEMORANDUM Bill Owens
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board—Finance Committee Greg E.Walcher
Executive Director
FROM: Larry Lang,Chief—Flood Protection Program
DATE: September 8,2003 Rod Kuharic t
RE: Non-Reimbursable Investments CWCB Director or
Weather Modification Program Demonstration Projects Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director
Introduction
The Department of Natural Resources has had a weather modification program since 1972. The program is
designed to permit projects to qualified operators, address and reconcile public concerns through hearings
and reporting and monitor the permits ensure operators are adhering to operational plan submitted at the
public hearing. The CWCB staff and project sponsors also monitor snow water equivalent levels based on
criteria that allows augmentation of snowpack but doesn't allow for snow water equivalent levels above
140% of average on April 1St of every year. In addition to acting as the state regulator and permitting
agency for these programs the CWCB staff believe that the Board should assist in a one time one year
demonstration project that is designed to assist in the cost share of the yearly operations with assistance to
• water conservation and water conservancy districts.
Discussion
The Utah Division of Water Resources has offered grants to cost share with water users since 1976 from the
Utah water project revolving fund. The CWCB as originally intended assists water conservancy and water
conservation districts in meeting their water needs. The technology of ground based cloud seeding is
endorsed by the American Society of Civil Engineers and World Meteorological Society to enhance
snowpack between 5-20%. Testimony by water users and cloud seeding contractors at the July 2003 CWCB
meeting in Pagosa Springs illustrated the request and need for funding to cost share in the yearly operation of
these programs and evaluations showed small incremental increases in snowpack at very low costs per acre
foot ($11-15/AF). The San Juan Conservancy District President, Fred Schmidt, explained the need for $5
million in land for a future reservoir site and the need for a $80,000 cloud seeding program with only a
$42,000 yearly operating budget from the mill levy that funds the San Juan WCD.
Staff Request
The staff of the Flood Protection Section request approval by the Board for a non-reimbursable
investment from the CWCB Construction Fund in the amount of$20,000. The request is to provide funds
to only water conservation district and water conservancy districts that sponsor cloud seeding programs.
Specifically the CWCB will grant$3,333 to six different programs: The San Juan Mountains Program,
The Upper San Miguel Basin Program,the Upper Gunnison Tributaries Program, The Central Rockies
Program, and the Grand Mesa Program, The funds would be made available for the 2003-2004 cloud
seeding operational year.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board request that the General assembly authorize $20,000 from the
•
Construction Fund to be appropriated to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for a demonstration
projects related to the Weather Modification Permit Program.
Flood Protection•Water Supply Planning and Finance•Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection•Conservation and Drought Planning