County Commissioners end weather modification contract
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
Public opinion reigned supreme in McKenzie County last week, as commissioners voted to end the weather modification program amid a growing chorus of local dissent. After years of participation in the state’s weather modification program, McKenzie County has officially decided to terminate its contract with the Weather Modification Authority, citing overwhelming public opposition and lingering questions about the program’s effectiveness. The decision, made during a recent Board of Commissioners meeting, reflects a growing sentiment among residents that cloud seeding has not delivered on its promises.
“Everything I’ve received from people everywhere [in the county] is they want us to not be in support of it,” stated Commissioner Kathy Skarda during the meeting. The board’s discussion revealed a near-unanimous consensus against renewing the program. The board summarized that except for one resident, who was not present at the meeting, who expressed concerns about hail damage in a previous phone call, all other comments the board had received were in favor of discontinuing the program. “I don’t think that I’ve heard more consistently from the public than asking that we don’t renew this contract,” Commissioner Joel Brown added, “and that speaks louder than words in my opinion.” In fairness, Chairman Howdy Lawlar offered several opportunities for any public comment in favor of continuing the program. The silence was deafening.
The decision comes after the weather modification proponents, in response to the board’s request, conducted public meetings in Alexander and Watford City. Chairman Lawlar thanked the officials from the Weather Modification Authority for “stepping up,” and providing information to the communities in McKenzie County as requested. However, the meetings failed to sway public opinion, and no supporters appeared at the commissioners’ meeting. The debate centered not only on the absence of positive feedback, but also on the program’s perceived ineffectiveness. Chairman Lawlar relayed a particularly impactful question from a resident: “It used to be widespread around North Dakota, everywhere, and people have dropped out. And the question he asked, which I thought was a really good question: if it’s so good, why hasn’t it been back?”
This sentiment echoed previous coverage in The Farmer, which has chronicled the county’s involvement in weather modification and the fluctuating public perception of its benefits. Past discussions on weather modification have highlighted concerns about the program’s cost, environmental impact, and its actual ability to significantly increase precipitation.
The board’s action was swift and decisive. A motion was made to non-renew the contract with the Weather Modification Authority. Additionally, the board moved to amend the budget, setting the contribution to the weather modification program to zero. This final addition to the motion ensures that public funds will no longer be allocated to the program, a huge victory for its opponents. The motion passed with a resounding “aye,” signaling the end of McKenzie County’s participation in cloud seeding, at least for the foreseeable future.
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