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<br />~ vv., <br /> <br />. ..-. ,', <br /> <br />. -:::' ~;,~;'r" <br /> <br />Silveri:on Outdoor Learning & RecreatIon Center <br />P.o. Box 654 Silverton, co 81433 ph(970)-387-0230 Web: silverionmountairi..com <br /> <br />October 4, 2000 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Dan McAuliffe and whom it may concern, <br /> <br />This letter is submitted by the Silverton Outdoor Learning aJld Recreation Center (SOLRC) , <br />as our objection to the proposed cloud seeding program for Durango Mountain Resort We are <br />currently attending a snow science conference in Montana, which prevents us from appearing at the <br />hearing in person. The SOLRC is a new recreation area, which primarily features snow-based <br />winter recreation in San Juan County. . <br />The entire success of our area (opening this winter) is dependent on deep powder snow. <br />Although a jack of snow due to natural causes is something we have to accept and cannot change, <br />cloud seeding forces a change in snowfall which can be stopped. This is a new proposal for cloud <br />seeding. A.lthough cloud seeding bas OCCUlTed for many years prior, we were not a consideration <br />back then. Storms coming from the south and southwest pass over Hermosa and Durango Mountain <br />Resort on their way toward SOLRC. <br />Snow essentially "stolen" by Durango Mountain will never make it to SOLRC. That so- <br />called 10% increase in snowfall that Durango Mountain Resort wants to obtain could very easily <br />translate into a HJ - 50% loss in snow for SOLRC. Cloud seeding essentially loads a cloud so that <br />it artificially dumps its load of snow earlier then it woul'd naturally. This early release could very <br />easily translate into SOLRC losing snow and needed income. We are marketing deep powder and <br />generally receive it at our high mountain location. Any loss of powder snow due to cloud seeding <br />will direct1y effect our livelihood. <br />We request that no approval be granted for this new program. If Durango Mountain Resort <br />wants to pursue this further, we suggest they spend one ~ter studying the potential affects of his <br />program on the SOLRC area snow pack That gen~ area is T42NR7W from storm Peak to <br />Gladstone to Hwy 110A <br />As you mayor may not know SOLRC is located in San Juan County. This county is one of <br />the poorest,. most highly unemployed, lowest paid counties in the state. ADy hindrance to economic <br />development (ie. lack of snow for SOLRC) will cause unnecessary harm to an already suffering <br />community. <br />This is not an effort to hinder operatiops at Durango Mountain Resort in any way. We <br />understand that Durango Mountain Resort has invested millions in new improvements and needs to <br />protect their investment Durango MOllIltain Resort has far more capital to work with than SOLRC <br />and could explore other options. Such as improvements to snowmaking or purchasing "lack of <br />snow insurance". We cannot financially afford to endure a ten year cloud seeding program that may <br />severely reduce our 100% natural snow pack without site specific data that scientifically proves <br />otheIWise. <br /> <br />Thank you for your time, <br /> <br />~ t\t~ri\' R~,(r <br />Aaron Brill <br />Manager <br />