The Upper Gunnison River Basin’s cloud seeding program has been a successful part of winter snowstorms for more than two decades, and now the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District (UGRWCD) is looking to expand the program’s impact even further. By adding a new remote generator to its operations, the UGRWCD hopes to address the ongoing drought and low reservoir levels with the help of new funding partners. Investing in cloud seeding has been proven to be an effective method of combating drought and low reservoir levels, and this program could have a huge positive impact on the entire region.
The Upper Gunnison Basin Cloud Seeding Program has been an incredibly successful endeavor since it began nearly two decades ago. The program has grown from the initial feasibility study funded by Gunnison County to now include 15 generators on public and private land. It is exciting to see that the UGRWCD is expanding the program and wants to add more generators in qualified locations, starting with one on Black Mesa. This will increase the effectiveness of the cloud seeding program to help mitigate drought and its effects on the region.
Cloud seeding is an incredibly cost-effective way to augment water for the Gunnison River basin. The Colorado Water Conservation Board provides a significant portion of the total cost, ranging from $67,000 to $94,000, while the UGRWCD makes up the difference. This method of augmentation costs just $0.53 per acre-foot annually, making it a great way to support Gunnison River basin flows, Blue Mesa Reservoir, and the local economy.
In addition, cloud seeding has been used since the 1940s in an effort to increase precipitation, but due to the many variables involved, the efficacy of this technique is still up for debate. Despite this, it is still seen as a viable option to many due to its low cost and simplicity. While there is still work to be done to determine its effectiveness, cloud seeding provides a way for stakeholders to explore and experiment in an effort to find solutions to their water-related issues.
Moreover, both the UGRWCD and North American Weather Consultants (NAWC) believe that funding the remote generator at Black Mesa between Crested Butte and Gunnison will be a successful decision. This smart move will likely bring about a significant augmentation of water in the Gunnison Range and Blue Mesa Reservoir. We are thankful for the financial assistance from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, which allowed for the initial set-up and infrastructure costs of approximately $67,600.
