Weather Modification Program - Cloud Seeding
Weather Modification Program - Cloud Seeding
Weather modification, or cloud seeding, is the deliberate introduction into
clouds of silver iodide crystals that act as ice nuclei in an attempt to
augment precipitation. Early experiments with cloud seeding began in 1946. Since
then seeding has been done from aircraft, rockets, cannons, and ground
generators.
The Southwestern Water Conservation District (SWCD) and
various participating entities in Southwest Colorado
have entered into a contract with Western Weather Consultants, LLC. of Durango, CO,
to participate in a cloud seeding program. WWC currently has contracts to
provide cloud seeding services to three areas: a) Upper Florida River Basins
(participating entities include the City of Durango; b) Purgatory, Upper
Hermosa and Dolores Drainage (participating entities include Purgatory Ski
Area, Animas La Plata Water Conservancy District, and Dolores Water Conservancy
District); and c) Upper San Miguel, Telluride, Lizard Head and West Dolores
River Basin (participating entities include Telluride Ski & Golf Company
and the Dolores Water Conservancy District). Two additional coverage areas
participate with WWC, but on a season-by-season or standby basis only: a)
Piedra and San Juan Drainage (participating entities include San Juan Water
Conservancy District and Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District); and b)
Florida River Drainage (participating entities include Pine River Irrigation
District and Florida Water Conservancy District). SWCD matches the contributions
from all of the above mentioned entities based on information provided by WWC.