By Andrew Hay

TAOS (N.M.) – This week, a plan to plant clouds in New Mexico’s mountains to boost snowfall during a drought has been canceled due to accusations that it might poison the environment and people.

Western Weather Consultants of Durango (Colorado) proposed to install machines close to five resorts in Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This would pump silver iodide vapour into the atmosphere, increasing ice crystals, and snow. The state agency stated that WWC has withdrawn its request to use the 75-year old technology, which is widely being used in the fight against extreme droughts that have affected half of the Western United States.

WWC declined to comment on requests.

Cloud seeding is an attempt to increase precipitation. This involves small particles being added to clouds, which water drops form. They then become snowflakes or raindrops.

According to an October filing, the preliminary approval of state officials was granted for the WWC plan. It would have been funded with state money.

On Monday, WWC officials, who provide cloud seeding in Colorado for Beaver Creek and Vail ski resorts, spoke out. They said it was an effective method to increase snowfall, with no detrimental effects on the flora or fauna.

The company then stated that New Mexico’s five target ski areas would not be participating in this project.

Over half the public commenters on the webinar disagreed with the plan. Silver was called a toxic heavy-metal that can get into the groundwater or soil by callers.

Marquel Musgrave of the Nambe Pueblo Native American Community stated that “the solutions are to stop destruction which causes rain and water not increase further destruction.”

According to a New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission statement, WWC withdrew their application on the following day.

“The reason they gave was the timeline was pushed back too far for adequate time for the program,” ISC Deputy Director Hannah Risely-White told the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Mike Davis of New Mexico was a pioneer in opposition to cloud-seeding. He called WWC’s withdrawal a victory.

Research suggests that human-caused climate changes are responsible for intensifying droughts in the Southwest United States.