Jury still out on cloud-seeding
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Allen Best
July 24,
2004
DENVER - After years of drought, ski areas, big
cities and water districts of Colorado spent more than $1 million this past
winter to seed clouds in hopes of inducing more snow. But how well does it
work?
A National Research Council study of weather modification programs
issued last October takes a dim view of cloud-seeding overall, but less so of
winter cloud-seeding. There are, says the agency, "strong suggestions of
positive seeding effects in winter ... cloud systems occurring over mountainous
terrain."
The report states that the most compelling evidence that
cloud-seeding works comes from experiments during the 1960s at Climax, a
molybdenum mine located near the Copper Mountain, Breckenridge and Vail ski
areas.
Although scientists initially over-reported the amount of extra
snow that fell, later studies still came up with a "possible increase in
precipitation of about 10 percent."
The city of
Denver also commissioned two studies in the winter of 2002-2003 intended to
determine whether the $400,000 it is spending to seed clouds is producing more
snow in its water collection areas, located in Winter Park and Summit County.
One study suggested a 14 percent augmentation, but the second study found no
evidence of silver iodide in the snow.
Another $100,000 study, based on
cloud-seeding last winter from the Wyoming border down through Winter Park,
Summit County and the Vail Valley, is being completed this summer. In the study,
which is funded by the federal government, researchers from Colorado State
University tracked storms daily, comparing the predicted and actual snowfall
accumulations in areas targeted for more snow with clouds seeded by silver
iodide particles. These areas will be compared with control areas, where there
was no seeding.
Few ski areas have consistently allocated money for
cloud-seeding, with Vail-Beaver Creek being the major exception.
Intrawest a mixed bag of blessings for
Mammoth
WINTER PARK - Winter Park town officials
have been doing their homework in anticipation of their impending marriage to
Intrawest, which is drawing up plans for a base-area village at the ski
area.
Implicit is the expectation that this marriage will enable Winter
Park to better compete with destination resorts of the Rocky Mountains by
building more base-area real state.
Part of Winter Park's research,
reports Mayor Nick Teverbaugh, involved holding a staff and council retreat in
Florida, where Intrawest is building a resort at Sandestine that is reported to
be comparable to what is contemplated at Winter Park.
Meanwhile,
Teverbaugh spent several days at Mammoth Lakes, in California, where he learned
to ski several decades ago. Mammoth is located a five-hour drive from Los
Angeles, from which the resort draws the vast majority of its business.
Intrawest built a substantial development there, connecting the resort and the
town.
Talking with locals at Mammoth, Teverbaugh
heard that Intrawest was both the best and the worst thing that has happened to
the town. Quality of construction has not been up to expectations, affordable
housing situations have worsened and many feel the town erred in not getting
more public parking to service the new village, at least until the new village
is completely built out.
On the other hand, property values at Mammoth
have quadrupled in the past three to five years since Intrawest got involved,
pushing real estate prices to around $800 per square foot in the base area. This
compares with the $250 per square foot to $300 per square foot that had been
expected.
Aspen looking for a 'dwell architect'
ASPEN -
Aspen is seeking a "dwell architect," someone who can create a downtown master
plan with an eye toward enhancing the city's public gathering spots. The
deadline for proposals is July 30. Lisa Baker, downtown catalyst, told The Aspen
Times she's gotten a lot of interest. In an attempt to encourage dwell time on
the city's downtown malls, the city recently purchased 16 tables with chairs.
They're getting used - pretty much all the time - reported Steve Barwick, the
city manager.
