WSPC05376

• File Number: 8200.700
• Description: Colorado River Basin General Publications - Augmentation-Weather Modification
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 6/1/1982
• Author: Barbara C Welles
• Title: Snowpack Augmentation Research Needs - A History of Weather Modification in Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

002412

House Bill 1357 included none of the "housekeeping" changes from the bill of the

prior year. Like the prior bill, it provided for a seven year winter weather

modification research and demonstration program to better understand the effects,

both beneficial and detrimental, of winter weather modification. It proposed an

annual appropriation of $650,000 to the Department of Natural Resources for seven

years. The program was to commence during the winter of 1981-82 and be completed

no later than June 30, 1988.

A local control council was proposed for each target area consisting of two

members from each county located in whole or in part of the target area for which

that council was created. Members were to be appointed by the county

commissioners and to serve for the duration of the project. The control councils

were to meet and review local weather and snowpack conditions and no project was

to commence unless the control council agreed to the conditions and criteria

under which the program was to operate.

In the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the bill was amended

and the appropriation reduced from $650,000 per year for seven years to $325,000

for each of the seven years with an equal amount ($325,000) to be raised from

other sources before any of the appropriated funds could be spent. It was also

amended to read "no other weather modification projects that could affect winter

storms shall be carried out in the state of Colorado during the period that such

research and demonstration program is in progressll.

,
I
,

As amended the bill passed the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee

by an 8-1 vote with one member absent and was subsequently forwarded to the

Appropriations Committee. Members of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association were

strongly opposed to any weather modification bill. As in the prior year, the

bill was not heard by the Appropriations Committee and consequently no further

action was taken.

Water user and ski industry interest continued in a weather modification research

and demonstration program. However; due to the continued seven percent annual

increase spending limitation of general fund moneys and lack of interest on the

part of most legislators in the controversial subject of weather modification, no

legislative attempts were made in the 1982 session.

22