WMOD00177

• Applicant: Valley Grovers
• Sponsor Name: Western Weather Consultants
• Project Name: San Luis Valley
• Date: 12/11/1975
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Public Hearing

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called Missionary Ridge north and east. of Durango in the

forest ecosystem. The tundra studies were done primarily at

williams Lake, which is north of Williams Creek Reservoir

from pagosa springs approximately lO or 15 miles up in, some-

thing like that.

We essentially, because of the lateness in gettin

involved with this study, developed a group of what we call

process studies in which we tried to identify those ecologica

happenings which might be affected by an increase in snowpack

and to correlate these effects wi ththe amount of snowpack.
\
In other words, we were not able to get a control

area, and then one ihwhich the snow was augmented at all.

But we were able to correlate an increase in snowpackwith

certain processing in plants and animals.

There were several studies sUbmitted to the

steering committee. We eliminated some as not being practica

or other reasons, and eventually the Bureau approved a cer-

tain number of them.

Basically, they covered a rather wide gamut of

processes. Quite frankly, I was very encouraged by this

because it was the first project of this type that I have

ever seen, and most of the time they go plowing along and

don' t do it.

There were approximately 15 to 20 scientists

involved of various degrees and calibers. Most of them were

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