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<br />,- <br />i(s@[P)J <br /> <br />CCllllfllissioner l::er ry nlade a motion duly seconded by c.:ornnlissioner <br />F'r.i..c~ 3nd C:hau IIl31l Schel'let~ declared the motion carl'ied unanimous to <br />adopt t.he following Resolution: <br /> <br />RESOLUTION <br /> <br />On Thursday. May the 3rd, 1990 a Public Hearing <br />was convened by the Colorado Water Conservation <br />Office, by Mr. Bill McDonald for the purpose of <br />infornling the pUblic of a weather modification <br />program to be operated by the Southwest Kansas <br />Wa~er District. This hearing was called to inforn: <br />the publiC of the Colorado Counties of Baca, <br />Cheyenne, Prowers, and Kiowa of the request of the <br />Kansas Water District about their plan to fly over <br />these four Colorado Counties and seed clouds in <br />such a manner as to increase the rainfall in <br />Western Kansas. <br /> <br />The hearing was held in the meeting room of the <br />Cow Palace Inn in Lamar, Colorado at 1:30 P.M. and <br />was attended by menlbers of the press, members of <br />the U. S. Department of Agriculture and County <br />Commissioners representing all four (4) counties. <br />In addition approximately 20 farmers and ranchers <br />were present representing a large portion of the <br />farln and ranch land along the state line of the <br />effected area. <br /> <br />Mr. Keith Weidman of the Kansas Water Conservatioll <br />Office informed the group of how and why this <br />modification program was formed. This area has <br />over 3000 deep irrigation wells and the water <br />table has dropped dramatically and this program is <br />designed to increase rainfall to replenish the <br />underground acquifer and to suppress hail storms. <br /> <br />After much discussion and lack of any scientific <br />ddta supporting any evidence of this project and a <br />great deal of testimony of area farmers as to the <br />detriment~l effect of cloud seeding over Colorado, <br />the group unanimously voted to oppose the project. <br /> <br />Mr. Bill McDondld was asked at this point as to <br />who makes the decision and upon what basis. He <br />informed the group that he alone makes the <br />decision Dnd upon scientific data, and does not <br />considel" the evidence presented at this public <br />hearing. This. immediately brought the meet.ing to <br />adjourl1lnent dS the public informed 'Mr. Donald of <br />his wasting their time and his wasting of tax <br />payers money in holding the public hearing 'For the <br />sole purpose of satisfying the public record. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, southeastern Colorado has an approximate <br />annual rainfdll uf 13 inches annually; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, now comes Mr. Keith Weidman of the Kansas <br />Water COllservancy District with a plan to seed <br />clouds over the Counties of Baca, Prowers, Kiowa. <br />and Cheyenne in Colorado which it is hoped would <br />produce rainfall over the State of Kansas to <br />benefit approximately one million acres in that <br />Sta te; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, it is estimated that the cloud seeding <br />process does work to augment rainfall over a given <br />area, but it also is thought that where the clouds <br />are seeded the rainfall for that area is decreased <br />because the treated clouds then retain their <br />