Wyo Cloud Seeding Project Gets $2.4M More

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Legislature has provided an additional $2.4 million to complete a cloud seeding research project and ensure that it will have scientifically sound results.

The state has invested about $11 million since 2005 in the project, which seeks to determine whether cloud seeding increases the amount of snowpack in several of the state's mountain ranges.

Most of Wyoming's water supply comes from winter snowfall. Supporters of the project say increasing the state's winter snowpack would provide more water for communities and irrigation and would be cheaper than building new dams and reservoirs.

Barry Lawrence, of the Wyoming Water Development Office, says the project will go on for two more winters and a report is planned in late 2014.