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<br />002395 <br /> <br />The San Juan Ecology Project, held concurrently with the Colorado River <br /> <br /> <br />Basin pilot Project, assessed the environmental impacts of snowpack and of <br /> <br /> <br />the silver iodide (AgI) used to seed the clouds. <br /> <br />The findings of the San Juan Ecology Project indicated little deviation in <br /> <br /> <br />effects of 10 to 20 percent snow increases from the large natural <br /> <br />variability (over 400 percent) in snowpack. Increases in the amount of <br /> <br /> <br />silver iodide resulting from seeding were inconsequential compared to the <br /> <br />amount of silver naturally present in the environment. While the San Juan <br /> <br /> <br />Ecology Project showed no significant short term environmental effects from <br /> <br />winter seeding, results might be different in the long term. Measurements <br /> <br /> <br />over many more years are recommended to assess the effects of prolonged use <br /> <br />of seeding agents and increased snowfall on the ecosystem. <br /> <br />Catalysts for New Research <br /> <br />o Significant technological advances in weather measuring equipment such <br /> <br /> <br />as radiosondes, radiometers, and radars have been made in the years <br /> <br />since the Climax and Colorado River Basin pilot Project studies were <br /> <br /> <br />completed. The new equipment promises more precise findings for cloud <br /> <br /> <br />physics research. <br /> <br />o Increasing concern over future Colorado River water supply and the <br /> <br /> <br />potential for new knowledge are incentives for future study of the <br /> <br /> <br />physical cloud processes and the human dimension questions raised by <br /> <br /> <br />winter seeding. <br /> <br />Order of Question Importance for New Research <br /> <br />In what order should the physical and societal questions surrounding weather <br /> <br /> <br />modification be addressed? Many questions are asked repeatedly. From a state <br /> <br /> <br />regulatory perspective there is strong inclination to address first those <br /> <br />4 <br />