University of Wyoming Plans Cloud Seeding Research atop Elk Mountain

The University of Wyoming is gearing up to revive its cloud seeding research at Elk Mountain, a site historically significant for cloud physics studies. This initiative aims to harness the mountain's unique weather conditions, where clouds envelop the summit for about a third of the winter season, to explore innovative methods for enhancing precipitation through cloud seeding.

During a recent meeting of the Wyoming Legislature's Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Committee, officials discussed the potential of utilizing the mountaintop observatory alongside advanced research aircraft and supercomputing resources to refine predictive models for cloud behavior. This interdisciplinary approach could lead to significant advancements in weather modification techniques.

However, the outlook for cloud seeding operations in Wyoming faces challenges. The 2025 legislative session resulted in the elimination of state funding for both ground and airborne cloud seeding programs, halting aerial operations over key mountain ranges. Ground-based seeding will continue, but only if fully funded by external sources, such as Colorado River water users. Currently, 13 ground-based generators are operational, primarily in the Wind River and Sierra Madre ranges, with a dedicated meteorologist overseeing 24/7 operations from November to April.

Despite the funding hurdles, the cloud seeding program is seen as a vital component of a broader strategy to augment water flow in the stressed Colorado River Basin. The collaborative effort among seven basin states aims to address ongoing water shortages, with Wyoming poised to play a crucial role in this initiative.

As the University of Wyoming prepares to embark on its renewed research efforts, the implications for water resource management in the region could be profound, potentially leading to enhanced precipitation and better water availability for communities reliant on the Colorado River.