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Weather
Modification Permit Program |
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Introduction
The moisture suspended in the atmosphere is a natural resource. It has been
estimated that only about 2% to 3% of the moisture in the atmosphere falls as
natural precipitation. Moisture which falls naturally or is artificially
induced to fall as precipitation within Colorado is the property of the people
of the state.
Weather Modification (WM) is the
science and practice of artificially changing the weather. Cloud seeding,
the primary WM activity, is the intentional treatment of individual clouds or
cloud systems to achieve some desired effect.
The Colorado General Assembly has declared that the State of Colorado
recognizes that economic benefits can be derived for the people of the state
from weather modification. Operations, research, experimentation, and
development in the field of weather modification shall therefore be encouraged.
Purposes of Weather
Modification
Weather modification is used for two basic purposes in Colorado.
- To Increase Precipitation
- More rain during drought
- More snow for reservoir storage
- More snow for earlier start on the ski season
- To Reduce Precipitation
- Less hail during severe storms
- Fog suppression
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Historic Target Areas in
Colorado
Since 1951, weather modification has been used in several areas of Colorado.
- Northeast Colorado
- San Luis Valley
- Aspen Ski Areas
- Vail-Beaver Creek Ski Areas
- Willow Creek Basin
- Grand Mesa
- San Juan Mountains
- Southeast Colorado
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Methods
The following materials and methods
of delivery are used to modify the weather:
Materials
- Silver Iodide
- Carbon Dioxide (dry ice)
Methods of Delivery
- Ground based generators (GBG)
- Aircraft
- Pyrotechnics
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Effectiveness
The effectiveness of weather
modification is difficult to measure. It usually involves comparison of
results in the target area to precipitation in a "control" area. However,
a 10- to 15-percent increase in snowpack from ground based winter generators is
typical. The theoretical limit under ideal circumstances is a 25%
increase.
An average savings of $4 million per year from reduced crop damages from hail
has been reported in western Kansas with a benefit to cost ratio as high as 37
to 1.
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Authorities
Administration of Colorado’s Weather Modification Permit Program is the
responsibility of the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources.
This responsibility has been delegated to the Director of the Colorado
Water Conservation Board since 1987.
The following State Statutes and Rules govern the control of issuing permits
for weather modification in Colorado:
State Statutes, CRS 36-20-101 et. seq.
- Weather Modification Act of 1951Weather Modification Act of 1972
- HB 92-1018, Sunset WM Advisory Committee
- HB 92-1129, Ground Based Winter Operations
- SB 96-90, Continuation of WM Permitting
State Statutes, CRS 24-4-101 et. seq.
- State Administrative Procedure Act
Rules and Regulations
- 2CCR 401-1 Weather Modification
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Permits
The General Assembly decided in 1996 that the state should continue to issue
permits in order to monitor and keep the public informed about weather
modification activity. While weather modification licenses were
eliminated, the qualifications for operating a weather modification program were
made part of the permitting process.
- You must have a permit to modify the weather in Colorado
- Permits are issued for specific projects
- The person in control of the project must be qualified
- Permits are for 5 consecutive years and are renewable
- The permit fee is $100 plus a 2% commercial fee
- Use Form WM-1 (qualifications) and Form WM-2 (project details) to apply
- Applications should be submitted at least 45 days before before the
beginning of the project
- You must publish a public
notice of intent to modify the weather
- A public
hearing is required
Target
Area's Permits
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Public Notice of Intent
The legal notice of intent to modify the weather must indicate the:
- sponsor
- purpose
- primary target area
- general area which might be affected
- expected duration
- intended effect
- where complete details are available
- time and place of the public
hearing
The legal notice must be published in at least one official county newspaper
of general circulation in the target area county and in all adjacent counties.
Publication shall be a minimum of at least 2 consecutive weekly legal notices
with not less than 1 week intervening between the first publication and the last
publication.
Target
Area's Notice of Intent
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Public Hearing
The public hearing shall not be held more than 1 week following completion of
publication of the notice of intent. At the public hearing, the permit applicant
must demonstrate:
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Qualifications
The person in control of the project must meet at least one of the following
qualifications based on experience, education, or certification.
- Experience
- 8 years professional experience in WM field research or operations
including at least 3 years as project director
- Education
- BS in Engineering, Mathematics or Physical Sciences + 3 years experience
- BS in Meteorology or Engineering (which includes, or is in addition to,
25 semester hours of Meteorology) + 2 years experience
- Certification
- Manager by the Weather Modification Association
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Financial Responsibility
Proof of financial responsibility may be demonstrated by:
- Corporate surety bond
- Liability insurance
- $1,000,000 minimum
- Licensed to do business in Colorado
- 30 day cancellation notice
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Operational Plan
A complete operational plan includes the following elements:
- Name and address of the project sponsor
- Name and address of the person in control of the project
- Statement of objectives
- Nature of the intended operation
- Map of the proposed operating area
- Target area
- Area that might be affected
- Expected effect on the environment and method of determining and
evaluating same
- Other detailed information as required
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Permit Requirements [Sections 36-20-112(3)(a-h),
CRS]
Information provided in the Operational Plan and testimony at the public
hearing must show the project:
- is reasonably expected to benefit the people in the area in which the
operation will be conducted or benefit the people of the state of Colorado,
- is scientifically and technically feasible if it is a commercial project,
- does not involve a high degree of risk of substantial harm to land,
people, health, safety, property, or the environment,
- is designed to include adequate safeguards
to prevent substantial damage to land, water rights, people, health, safety,
or to the environment,
- will not adversely affect another project, and
- is designed to minimize risk and maximize scientific gains or economic
benefits to the residents of the area or the state.
Safeguards
Safeguards may be incorporated into a permit based on the following criteria:
- Atmospheric conditions
- Notification of agencies (CWCB, Highways, and Wildlife)
- Suspension criteria
- Snow water content limits
- Avalanche forecasts
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DNR Publications
The following publications, currently out of print, have been prepared by the
Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Copies may be obtained for a nominal
fee.
- “What is
Weather Modification? Answers to the 20 Most Often Asked Questions About Cloud
Seeding in Colorado,” Barbara C. Welles, 1983
- Snowpack Augmentation Research Needs: A History of Weather Modification in
Colorado, Barbara C. Welles, June 1982
- The Ability of the Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI) to Predict Crop
Yields in Northeast Colorado, Lynn A. Sherretz, Lawrence E. Dezman, and
William Loehr, January 1984
- A Comparison of the Potential of Cloud Seeding to Enhance Mountain
Snowpack in Colorado During Dry, Normal, and Wet Winters, Lynn A. Sherretz,
Robert M. Rauber, and Loren D. Nelson, January 1983
- The Value of Electric Power and Possible Effects of Weather Modification
on Small-scale Hydroelectric Production in Colorado, William Loehr, Barbara
C. Welles, and Lynn A. Sherretz, November 1983
- Daily Snowfall and Skier Visits in Colorado, Lynn A. Sherretz,
September 1984
- Early Season Snow and Skier Visits in Colorado, Lynn A. Sherretz,
November 1984
- A Simulation of the Costs of Removing Snow from County Highways in
Colorado, Lynn A. Sherretz and William Loehr, March 1983
- Assessing the Economic Effects of Early-season Snow on the Ranching
Industry in Western Colorado, Lynn A. Sherretz, January 1984
- Developing Criteria to Suspend Cloud Seeding to Protect Against Snowmelt
Floods, Lynn A. Sherretz, June 1986
Other Weather Modification
Publications
- Guidelines for Cloud Seeding to Augment Precipitation, ASCE Manual
and Report on Engineering Practice No. 81, American Society of Civil
Engineers, 1995
- "Hail Damage Mitigation and Hail Science," proceedings from a conference
held at Bismarck, North Dakota, March 19-20, 1996
- "Final Report, Western Kansas Weather Modification Program, 1997,"
Curtis D. Smith, 1997
- "Western Kansas Weather Modification Program," Darrel L. Eklund,
Ph.D., Kansas Water Office, April 1996
- "Evaluation of the Western Kansas Weather Modification Program," Kansas
Water Office, Darrel L. Eklund, Ph.D., September 1994
- Evaluation of Operational Cloud Seeding in Western Kansas: Final
Report, Engineering and Research Center, Bureau of Reclamation, United
States Department of the Interior, Arnett S. Dennis et al, November,
1987
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Where to get more information:
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Colorado Water Conservation Board
721 Centennial Building
1313 Sherman Street
Denver, CO 80203
Tel: (303) 866-3441
FAX: (303) 866-4474
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If you have comments or suggestions about this page, please send an e-mail
message to: Joe.Busto@state.co.us
