Tuesday, November 7, 2000
Abilene to consider cloud seeding
By Samuel Segrist
Reporter-News Staff Writer
The Abilene City Council will consider Thursday
whether to pitch in to make it rain more.
At an October council meeting, the council
directed City Hall staff to put a proposed weather modification
program on Thursday’s agenda. Weather modification, also
known as cloud seeding, is a way to enhance the chances of rainfall.
Taylor County commissioners have already
thrown their support behind the program, which includes eight
other area counties. The county government has pledged $67,500
per year for four years for weather modification and proposes
that City Hall do the same.
The city administration has not made a recommendation
for or against cloud seeding.
The science of weather modification has
been disputed, but research from the Texas Natural Resource and
Conservation Commission has shown that cloud seeding can cause
more rain to fall, especially in years of wet and normal precipitation.
But the studies do not indicate whether
the extra rain would be helpful in replenishing the city’s
reservoirs. The city council must decide if $67,500 a year for
four years is worth it.
“That’s the question the council
needs to ask,” McDaniel said.
Supporters of weather modification point
primarily to the overall economic impact.
More rain grows more crops. If the program
put more money into the pockets of farmers and ranchers, supporters
expect the cash would be spent in the regional center of the Big
Country economy — Abilene.
According to Taylor County officials, if
the program can get the cash, weather modification could begin
as early as spring of next year.
Contact city government writer
Samuel Segrist at 676-6744 or segrists@abinews.com.
Check out our Web site at www.reporternews.com
Send a Letter to the Editor about This
Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address)
of This Story to A Friend:
Copyright ©2000,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
|
