Out-of-state water authorities paying to "seed" clouds in Colorado.

• Author: Best, Allen
• Position: ENVIRONMENT

A half-century after cloud-seeding began in the West, it continues to be regarded by many as something akin to chicken-noodle soup for colds. Or, on the more sinister side, snake oil.

But water authorities in Arizona, California, and Nevada don't see it that way. The three states have been pouring more money into Colorado and other headwater states in the Colorado River Basin to seed clouds.

"We're believers down here," says Tom Ryan, resource specialist with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. "The lower-basin folks believe it works. We believe that the science is adequate to move forward."

While still relatively small, just $152,000 this winter, the money from lower-basin states has more than tripled since 2006. The money has been used to spew silver iodide particles into clouds over the San Juan Mountains, the Gunnison Basin and Grand Mesa. Lower-basin states have also contributed to revived seeding operations at Winter Park by Denver Water and ski-area operator Intrawest.

New Mexico this winter is also contributing $25,000 to seeding of clouds in the San Juans. Colorado's state government also contributed $175,000, and local water districts, ski areas and other organizations have contributed various amounts. Vail Resorts also continues its seeding operations at Vail, as it has since 1977, the state's longest-standing seeding operation. Cost this year is $175,000.

The lower-basin states see cloud-seeding as a viable way to increase water in the stressed Colorado River Basin. Two years ago, consulting firm Black & Veatch completed a study commissioned by the lower-basin states that evaluated...