WMOD00254

• Contract/Permit #: #2000-3
• Applicant: Water Enhancement Authority
• Project Name: Grand Mesa
• Date: 1/18/2001
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Application

Authority by check No. 1235 dated December 5,2000. [g36-20-ll2(1)(b), CRS]

5. Proof of financial responsibility has been provided by the applicant by means of a
Certificate of Insurance dated March 5, 2001, which evidences that the applicant is
covered by commercial general liability insurance in the aggregate amount of $1
million through Home Loan & Investment Company, which is licensed to do
business in Colorado. [g36-20-ll2(1)(c), CRS]

6. The proposed Operational Plan for the project submitted by the applicant meets the
requirements of g36-20-ll2(l)(d), CRS.

7. The areas outside of the target area reasonably expected to be affected by the project
are the uppermost ridges above approximate elevation 8,000 feet immediately
adjacent and downwind of the target area.

8. The area that may reasonably expected to be affected by the proposed project does
not overlap any other areas reasonably expected to be affected by other winter
weather modification projects in Colorado.

9. Legal notice of intent to modifY weather was published in a timely manner in the
official newspaper of Delta, Mesa, and Gunnison Counties; and in the official
newspapers of the adjacent counties of Pitkin, Montrose, and Saguache. Proof of
publication was not provided for the adjacent counties of Garfield and Chaffee.
[g36-20-ll2(1)(e), CRS]

10. Under Section 36-20-114(3), CRS, "a project permit may be granted by the director
without prior publication of notice by the operator in cases of fire, frost, hail, sleet,
smog, fog, drought, or other emergency. In such cases, publication of notice shall
be performed as soon as possible..." The March 1,2001 snow pack in the target
area was 70% to 90% below average, and the March 1, 2001 stream flow forecast
for the majority of the target area was much below average (less than 70%). Under
these conditions, a short-term drought may be emerging and the window of
opportunity to mitigate the damages is shortening.

11. A public hearing on the application was held beginning at 1 :30 p.m. on Monday,
December 5, 2000, and ending at 2:45 p.m. at the Colorado Division of Water
Resources Division Engineer's Office at Cedaredge, Colorado. The hearing was
conducted in the immediate vicinity of the target area and not more than one week
following the completion of publication. The hearing was attended by 8 persons in
addition to the hearing officer. [g36-20-I12(2), CRS]

11. The applicant has estimated the project has the potential to generate up to 50,000
acre-feet of additional snowmelt runoff per season.

12. The applicant has shown that significant economic benefits can be obtained by
augmenting natural precipitation to increase the depth of the winter snow pack over

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