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<br />CLOUD SEEDING--third add <br /> <br />2319 <br /> <br />The reasoning behind selection of the three areas being seeded <br />under the state program--the San Juan Basin in south-central <br />Colorado, the central area of the state and the northern Front <br />Range--is primarily economic, Grant said, explaining that there is <br />an economic impact of water from these areas to nearly all the <br />major water use areas of the state. <br />He readily acknowledges that cloud seeding cannot eliminate <br />drought, but he maintains that "it can contribute consistent small <br />amounts of precipitation. These small amounts can have great value <br />in,normal years and, though they're small, even greater value in <br />dry years." <br />Since the emergency program which started in late February <br />will be in effect only until mid-May, Grant predicts that it is <br />likely that reservoirs will be low next fall. He said he feels, <br />however, that a continuation of the program next fall warrants <br />consideration. <br />He steered clear of recomnlending summer seeding, he said, <br />because not enough is known about the reaction of su~~er clouds to <br />modification attempts. <br />"They can be affected by seeding," he said, "but research has <br />shown that seeding summer clouds might produce less precipitation. <br />If we were considering only that we might get some benefits but, <br />at worst, nothing would happen, the cost is so low that I certainly <br />would recommend it. <br />"But that isn't the basic issue. The basic issue is that it <br />might not be a matter of our not getting anything for our money; it <br />is that we might hurt ourselves. I think it's too risky a thing <br />to undertake." <br /> <br />-more- <br />