BOARD00862

• Board Meeting Date: 5/23/2005
• Description: Flood Section - Weather Modification Resolution
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Shennan Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:

Russell George
Executive Director

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Joe Busto, Flood Protection Program
May II, 2005
Agenda Item 9 - Weather Modification Resolution
May 24, 2005 Board Meeting - Salida, Colorado

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Rick Brown
Acting Deputy
Director

Introduction _
Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson ofthe}09th Congress introduced S, 517 on March 3, 2005, This may.
be cited as the "Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of2005". The
purpose of this Act is to develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated national weather
modification policy and a national cooperative Federal and State program of weather modification research
and development The passage of this bill will assist with I) research and operational programs in Colorado,
2) the CWCB Weather Modification Permitting Program, and 3) the North American lnterstate Weather
Modification Council (Council),

Discussion
The proposed Senate Bill would authorize up to $100 million in federal expenditures from federal fiscal years
2005 through 20]4 to enhance support for weather modification, to promote research and development related
to weather modification, and to provide financial assistance to public and private entities involved with
weather modification activities,

Staff estimates that approximately $]5 million/year is spent in the U,S, on operations and research for weather
modification activities, Water users in the U,S, and other countries are using weather modification as a long-
term resource management strategy rather than a quick fix for drought problems, The CWCB has an active
role with weather modification permitting and strives to work with ]ocal, state and federal partners to advance
the technology and understanding ofthe program,

At the Council meeting in Rockville, MD, Josh McClintock of Capital Decisions reported to the Council
Members regarding progress made with S. 5] 7, The goal of his efforts is to obtain a permanent authorization
for the Weather Damage Mitigation Program (WDMP) within either the US Bureau ofRec]amation or
NOAA, This authorization, if achieved, would greatly assist Colorado and others by supporting existing
programs and providing a mechanism for advancement into the future, In contrast, the lack of current WDMP
funding through the USBR hampers states' efforts related to this issue,

Flood Protection. Wate! Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Watee Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning