County hears cloud‑seeding update: drones logged radar 'seeding signatures' in La Sals; final report due after season

Green Maker Technologies briefed the commission on a cloud‑seeding pilot that the county helped support. Jared Smith described a shift toward radar‑based, physical validation of seeding effects (the method used in the Snowy Campaign research), and said the company has logged dozens of signatures across operations and was able to identify seeding signatures over the La Sal Mountains.

Smith said the company has flown 12 operational missions this season, nine focused on the La Sals and three on the Abajos. He described advances in drone capability (larger platforms able to reach icing altitudes) and said he expects the company’s final season report — to be delivered after operations conclude in late April — to include improved estimates of induced precipitation and an effort to convert radar signatures to acre‑feet estimates of yield.

Funding and participation: commissioners asked about local contributions and partners; Smith confirmed Grand County committed $10,000 and that San Juan County and San Juan Water Conservancy also contributed $10,000 each. He said the Division of Water Resources had signaled interest in continued support next season but cautioned that physical yield estimates remain a work in progress pending radar calibration and peer review.

Why it matters: cloud seeding is being tested as a localized method to boost mountain precipitation and augment water supply. Commissioners asked for clear, peer‑reviewed yield estimates and a final report to quantify acre‑feet produced and to inform future budgeting decisions.

Attribution: presentation and operational details provided by Jared Smith of Green Maker Technologies; commissioners and staff asked technical and funding questions.