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<br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />'. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br /> <br />2.0 FEASIBILITY/DESIGN STUDY <br /> <br />The first task required in the contract between NA WC and the County was the <br />preparation of a feasibility/design study for the Gunnison County cloud seeding program. <br />This study was completed by NA WC (Griffith and Yorty, 2002) and provided to the <br />County on December 17, 2002. Since this study provides the basis for the pro!!ram <br />that was conducted durin!! the 2002-2003 winter season, the findin!!s of this study <br />are provided in the followin!! sections. <br /> <br />2.1 Climatological Precipitation Information <br /> <br />The Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation <br />Service) has historically been responsible for the collection and publication of <br />precipitation information throughout the mountainous areas of the western United States. <br />Early observations during the winter time have included monthly manual measurements <br />of snow water content and depth at selected locations commonly referred to as snow <br />surveys. In more recent years (beginning in the 1980's), an automated system known as <br />SNOTEL has been implemented. This system provides multiple readings of snow water <br />content and precipitation on a daily basis. NA WC reviewed the available data for <br />Gunnison County. Table 2-1 provides the average monthly precipitation amounts <br />(October through April) for four upper elevation sites in Gunnison County. Table 2-2 <br />provides the average cumulative snowpack water content for the same sites for the <br />October through April period. The six-month period of November through April appears <br />worthy of further analysis regarding winter cloud seeding potential over the higher <br />mountains in the County. October is a transition month with limited snowpack <br />accumulation in the mountains of Colorado, plus relatively warm temperatures which <br />tend to limit the cloud seeding potential as will be discussed in a later section. <br /> <br /> <br />2 <br />