WTWMA Will Have Additional Pilot
The West Texas Weather Modification Association will soon have an additional pilot in Midland, making a total of three available at that site, according to Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District Manager Rick Harston. He told the GGCD Board of Directors Mar. 18 that all WTWMA’s planes are ready for the season. Harston said WTWMA pilots are working on using night vision goggles, which should enable them to continue cloud seeding later into the night. He said the goggles require two pilots in the plane. He said the association has restrictions on night seeding, including a two-engine plane, a limit on hours flown, and a cut-off time of 2 a.m.
The GGCD board approved payment of $13,291 for half its WTWMA fee for 2003.
State Funding for Weather Modification Holds Fairly Steady
At its April 15 meeting, Harston told the board that the state has approved $207,000 for weather modification statewide, only slightly less than the $213,000 requested. He said all licensing and funding for weather modification has been moved to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation from the Texas Department of Agriculture, which considered it too controversial.
The board discussed cloud seeding as a method of suppressing hail, and Harston said the WTWMA has a hail suppression permit. Director Dennis Seidenberger said cloud seeding should suppress hail, making it less severe, if not stopping it completely, but added, “There are those who will never be convinced of that.” He said research shows the seeding is making it rain more. But, he said the GGCD board should expect problems when someone gets hail after a cloud in their area has been seeded.
The board voted to renew two certificates of deposit for three months with First Bank of West Texas, effective May 11, at the rate of interest available at that time. The CD’s are in the amounts of $100,309 and $50,537, and the district has $43,537 in its checking account.
The GGCD rescheduled its next meeting for May 15 at 9 a.m. at the water district office in Garden City.