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OOlll11S "In the alpine setting, certain species subjected to artificial snowdrifts produced seed of reduced germinabil- ity. It is tentatively concluded that the Skywater experi- mental program of winter snowpack augmentation will have no discernible impact on herbaceous vegetation." [4, pp. 3-104, 3-105J The Skywater Programmatic Statement concluded: "No significant impact on the overall productivity of the herbaceous community is expected. The main reason for this expectation is the finding that species composition is determined principally by minimum soil moisture during the growing season, and that productivity of different species in different settings is influenced by a variety of fac- tors, including a slight delay in snow release data and a delay in the date of exhaustion of winter moisture. "Other outputs of the Skywater program such as instrument and equipment installations, travel, and seeding agents, are expected to have no significant impact on herbaceous vegetation." [4, p. 3-108J Long-term monitoring of the responses of vegetation to incremental precipitation increases will be required to determine whether species composition and productivity will be significantly affected. Studies of the effects of precipitation increases on large and small mammals were undertaken in the Medicine Bow Ecology Project [18], the Sierra Ecology Project [19J, and the San Juan Ecology Project [14]. In addition, Montana State University surveyed previous research on the effects of weather components on big game. "Section 2, Ecological, Wildlife and Biocommunities," of this report states: "Various weather components seem to influence the activi- ties of many big game species: 1. game species move to areas of the most available forage; 2. game species move to areas of the most nutritious forage; 3. relative humidity affects the length of rest periOds which are longer on more humid days and shorter on less humid days; 4. animals rest in areas away from wind; 5. precipitation, unless accompa- nied by wind, does not affect the activity of game species; 6. game species use higher elevation ranges during dry summers; 7. game species are more observable during dry summers because of lack of cover and search for preferred food species; 8. winter snows decrease the availability of total range, cover and food; g. low temperatures decrease activities of game species; 10. winds of 15-25 mph and low temperatures cause game species to feed later in the morning; 11. low temperatures and snow depth force the congregation of animals which increases their susceptibil- ity to predation; 12. food availability eliminates many of 21