WMOD00234

• Contract/Permit #: #93-5
• Applicant: Western Kansas Groundwater
• Project Name: Kansas Weather Modification
• Date: 1/1/1993
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

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objectives similar to those of the WKWM Program. Any such program
is still at least two years away at a minimum. We anticipate a
symbiotic relationship with them if, and when, such a program is
initiated. On some days we expect to be able to provide planes to
them when needed and in turn be provided planes by them on other
days when we need additional capability. It would be a win-win
situation for both areas since total resources would be used more
efficiently to reduce hail. As one example: this July 1st, as
afternoon storms evolved in Northwest Kansas, our 5 aircraft sat
idle until quite late in the afternoon while portions of Sheridan,
Thomas, Gove, Decatur and Rawlins counties were being mauled by
hail. Crop-hail insurance claims numbered 415 for those five
counties on that day alone, Sheridan being the worst hit with 218
claims, Thomas with 94, Decatur with 44, Gove with 32 and Rawlins
27 claims. There is a strong implication that many more than 400
sections sustained crop damage since not all farmers insure their
crops, perhaps even twice that number, Two days later, on July
3rd, it was even worse: the six counties of Sheridan, Thomas,
Decatur, Rawlins, Decatur and Gove together sustained 1047 crop
damage claims; Sheridan again took the most damage---281 claims,
then Decatur with 128, Gove 81, Rawlins 53, Thomas 38 and Logan
with 26. similarly, WKWM planes were idle at the same time most of
the storm damage was occurring in those counties. Half (49.6%) of
all 1993 crop-hail damage claims for Sheridan County were submitted
for those two storm days in which some seeding collaboration could
have been performed and, most likely, highly productive. Decatur
County hail claims on those two days amounted to 33% of its 1993
total, 30% for Thomas, 25% for Rawlins and 16% for Gove.

If Northwest Kansas does develop a cloud seeding program and
the terms of seeding collaboration with the WKWM Program are worked
out satisfactorily, both flight time and associated costs will
increase for both areas. However, the most obvious benefit will be
in the form of both long-term decreases in crop-hail damage to both
areas and increases in agricultural production, i.e. increased Farm
Value. If it comes to pass it will mark a significant turning
point in the effort to suppress hail in a serious manner in all
Western Kansas---northwest through southwest. Although there will
still be significant hail damage from time to time in all areas,
overall hail reduction should dramatically improve in both target
areas within a short time period, especially so in Northwest
Kansas.

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