WWDC to continue Wind River/Sierra Madre cloud‑seeding operations only with external funding commitments
November 05, 2025 | Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming
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The Wyoming Water Development Commission accepted staff recommendations to continue ground‑based cloud‑seeding operations in the Wind River and Sierra Madre ranges for the 2027 season only if non‑state funding commitments are in place to cover 100% of operating costs.
The program is part of a broader Upper Colorado River Basin flow‑augmentation strategy. Director Mead summarized recent legislative direction that explicitly exempted cloud seeding from draft moratoria on broader geoengineering and that required the office to secure external funding commitments before conducting operations. The office reported it has identified funding partners in the basin and is negotiating agreements; program staff said operations could begin as early as this season if agreements are finalized.
Commissioners approved the office’s recommendation to proceed without state funds. The motion sets no state appropriation for operations; instead, the office will bill and manage contracts provided external partners commit to operation costs. Staff also said the work supports basin discussions and the Upper Colorado River Commission’s flow‑augmentation coordination.
The commission noted questions remain about measurement and attribution of cloud‑seeding benefits but said cloud‑seeding operations are distinct from larger geoengineering concerns and that continuing operations with basin partner funding is appropriate for now.
Select Water and the joint committees have reviewed draft legislative language and discussions; the office will return updates if partner agreements are executed or if the legislature provides different direction.
The program is part of a broader Upper Colorado River Basin flow‑augmentation strategy. Director Mead summarized recent legislative direction that explicitly exempted cloud seeding from draft moratoria on broader geoengineering and that required the office to secure external funding commitments before conducting operations. The office reported it has identified funding partners in the basin and is negotiating agreements; program staff said operations could begin as early as this season if agreements are finalized.
Commissioners approved the office’s recommendation to proceed without state funds. The motion sets no state appropriation for operations; instead, the office will bill and manage contracts provided external partners commit to operation costs. Staff also said the work supports basin discussions and the Upper Colorado River Commission’s flow‑augmentation coordination.
The commission noted questions remain about measurement and attribution of cloud‑seeding benefits but said cloud‑seeding operations are distinct from larger geoengineering concerns and that continuing operations with basin partner funding is appropriate for now.
Select Water and the joint committees have reviewed draft legislative language and discussions; the office will return updates if partner agreements are executed or if the legislature provides different direction.
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