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<br />December 5, 2000 <br /> <br />ARGUMENTS FOR WEATHER MODIFICATION <br />GRAND MESA PROJECT <br /> <br />Not a new concept - weather modification (cloud seeding) occurred from 1962 through ' <br />1976, again through the mid 1980 by the BaR, and the current program has run <br />continuously since 1989, During that time there have not been any negative impacts <br />reported, <br /> <br />There are protections built into the program that discontinue weather modification if snow <br />pack conditions reach certaIn levels, <br /> <br />Research has shown that cloud seeding generally increases moisture content of the snow <br />pack by at least 10%, There is nearly 500,000 acre feet of flows annually from the target <br />area, An increase of 10% of snow pack moisture would equate to SO,OOO acre feet of <br />water, <br /> <br />Unlike some drainages in Colorado, there are limited storage facilities in the target area, with <br />a total storage of approximately 60,000 acre feet. Most of these facilities have very little <br />carry-over capabilities, An increase of 10010+ in snow pack moisture is critical to filling these <br />structures as well as increasing spring run.off so these reservoirs do not need-to be draw <br />from as soon, This is even more important after last year's lack of moisture with carry-over <br />nearly nonexistent, <br />