WMOD00221

• Contract/Permit #: #2001-2
• Applicant: Southern Colorado Farms
• Project Name: Southern Colorado Farms
• Date: 6/15/2001
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Application

8, The operational plan is as follows:

a, The physical equipment to be employed is an Eggers Co, hail cannon, consisting
of a cylindrical type, pot bellied, activity chamber with an upward exit point
narrowed to concentrate and prolong the release of energy out of the activity
chamber and to emit that energy through a conical type barrel, larger at the top
and smaller at the bottom, permitting the escape of the sound waves from the
activity chamber, and continuing in conical shape, The hail cannon is powered by
acetyhlne gas injected into' the activity chamber and ignited by spark plugs,
balancing the amount of acetylene in the activity chamber to the amount of air
I - ~ -- - - - ~ - - ~ - -availabiesotnat the energy is generarea entirely wttlllntneacrtvltrcnam"oer-;-ana -, - ~, -- - -
permitting the expulsion of this energy in a conical pattern upward into the clouds
at an angle perpendicular to the surface. The cannon will operate on intervals of 6
seconds producing a succession of sound waves, sequenced into the suspect
cloud, The cannon is actuated by remote control and fitted with its own radio that
accepts its own unique signal. The activity sequence will continue until it is
terminated.

b, The decision as to when to activate the cannon is by visual observation by person
with long experience in Saguache County observing and noting the activities of
the types of clouds most likely to produce hail stones, Upon observation of a
cloud determined to be a hazard to a particular protected area the observer makes
a judgmental decision to activate the cannon a minimum of 10 minutes prior to
the arrival of the suspect cloud and activates the cannon, Immediately after the
cloud has passed over, the cannon is deactivated,

c. The normal appearance of hail clouds is in the afternoon hours on days with
considerable build up of cumulus activity in the mountains to the west along the
Continental Divide and to the north of the protected area. The normal movement
of the suspect hail clouds in the San Luis Valley is in a west to east direction
while crossing the continental divide. After crossing the divide the cumulus
activity may move erratically but generally to the east and south, The activation of
the cannon is a judgmental decision by the operator, timed for a minimum of 15
minutes prior the estimated time that the suspect hail cloud may pass over a
protected field. It is estimated that the hail cannon will not be in operation longer
than 90 minutes continuously, and that within that period oftime the danger will
have passed the protected field.

d. The beginning of the operational season will be mid June when usually the first
problem hail clouds form and continuing forward and reaching the peak at
approximately the middle of September. It is noted that these dates are generally
dates, in as much as there has been noted hail activity in the San Luis Valley as