http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribune" (...)
Industry isn't waiting
Government support or not, the weather modification industry has pushed ahead.
Weather modification experts haul ice nuclei generators into the mountains each autumn, setting the roaring cloud seeders near Sierra whitebark pines and Wyoming alpine meadows. From the cockpits of Cheyennes and Cessnas, they buzz fields of Kansas dryland corn and Texas wheat in the spring, their wings bulging with glaciogenic flares. They have soggy clouds in sight and plans to herd atmospheric moisture in mind.
When doubts arise about their ability to make it rain, reduce hail or add snow, people in weather modification cite their own research, supportive economic studies and anecdotal evidence.
Four operators undertake about half such projects. Along with the Desert Research Institute--Nevada's non-profit, university-affiliated research lab--are three private companies: Atmospherics Inc., North American Weather Consultants and Western Weather Consultants.
"It's a close-knit community," said Don Griffith, president of North American Weather Consultants. "Silver iodide, it won't dissolve in almost anything. It is, however, soluble in blood--once you get into this field, you're hooked."
Local water boards, and county and state governments spend millions of dollars each year to fund these companies.
North Dakota alone pays $650,000 to $700,000 a year in tax money for hail reduction, said state Atmospheric Resource Board Director Darin Langerud. Seven states in the Colorado River basin -- Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming--are seeking to formalize and expand cloud seeding.
But even Westerners paying for it aren't 100 percent convinced that cloud seeding performs as advertised.
'The great question out there is: `What would the snow have been like had it not been for cloud seeding?'' said Rick Brown, acting deputy director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. (...)"
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...n-hurricane-atmospheric-administration/2„Colorado's Statewide Water Supply Initiative - Helping Ensure Colorado will have Adequate Water for Our Citizens and the Environment
Rick Brown
Project Manager, Statewide Water Supply
Initiative, Colorado Water Conservation
Board, 1313 Sherman St., Ste. 721,
Denver, CO 80203, (303) 866
-3514, rick.brown@state.co.us
The Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) is a project being undertaken by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. SWSI is a basin by basin look at current and future (forecasted to the year 2030) water supply and water demands, and an evaluation of how Colorado's future water needs may be addressed. The SWSI process relies heavily on local input, with stakeholders from a variety of interest groups participating in Basin Technical Roundtables in Colorado's eight major river basins. The presentation will summarize the findings and recommendations of the first phase of SWSI, and will outline how the second phase of work will address future water needs and options for addressing those needs. The integration and coordination of SWSI and the Intrastate Compact Process will also be highlighted.
Rick Brown has been with the Colorado Water Conservation Board for six years. He was hired to work on Platte River endangered species issues. Rick was asked to manage the Statewide Water Supply Initiative in February 2003. In May 2005 Rick was appointed acting deputy director for the CWCB and is expected to remain in that role for one year at which time Dan McAuliffe will return from active Army duty with the Judge Advocate General’s Office. Prior to joining the Board, Rick worked for 10 years with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. His work at CDPHE focused on investigation and remediation of contaminated hazardous waste
sites under the federal Superfund program. Rick also has experience at the local government level having worked for Boulder County Health Department.
Rick is a native of Colorado and obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado.“
http://www.cwi.colostate.edu/publications/is/100.pdf
