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<br />0035;'1f\ <br /> <br />It is widely aCknowledged, however, that the benefits of winter <br />seeding would not be distributed uniformly. Sonka states that, in <br />general, those who suffer adverse effects are not those who enjoy the <br />gross benefits (Sonka, 1979:31). In Colorado, this disparity is probably <br />most evident in small mountain cormnunities whose residents suffer the <br />inconvenience of additional snowfall but reap few of the benefits enjoyed <br />by metropolitan water-users and irrigation interests. Among the <br />potentially adverse socioeconomic impacts are increased costs of snow <br />removal, increased incidence of avalanches, disruption of grazing and <br />calving, and inconvenience and health hazard to the elderly. (Rudel, <br />Stockwell and Walsh, 1973; Weisbecker, 1974; Farhar and Rinkle, 1976). <br /> <br />Data to verify impacts are difficult to locate. Weisbecker (1974) <br />. . . '. ~, ' . -." '.. <br />notes that. effects cannot be measured using published information, partly <br />because of the small size of local government units and partly because <br />the nondisclosure rule protects individual businesses. He states that <br />extensive field work would be necessary before the extent of local <br />economic injury could be determined (Weisbecker, 1974:XV). * <br /> <br />The Weather Modification Advisory Board (1978:130) urges that <br />problems of disparate benefits not impede use of weather modification but <br />rather stimulate development of policies to minimize adverse inpacts. <br />The Colorado Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the <br />Bureau of Reclamation, is researching this problem. <br /> <br />*Weisbecker assumed seeding-induced seasonal increases in snowpack of 25 <br />percent. Recent evidence indicates that increases of 10 to 15 percent <br />are more likely. <br /> <br />REFEREOCES <br /> <br />Briefing Document for the Colorado River Enhanced Snowpack Test <br />1982 U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, <br />Colorado. <br /> <br />47 <br />