In consideration of this year’s General Election, I would like to point out some of the services to the community that the North Dakota Cloud Modification Project (NDCMP) brings to Bowman County along with some of the associated economic impacts.
The NDCMP has based a project weather radar in Bowman since the 1970s, with the past 20 years using a radar set owned by ND Atmospheric Resource Board (ARB). For the past 5 years during off-project months the radar has additionally been operated by money from 8 Counties (6 counties in North Dakota along with Fallon and Harding County). During the short relocation of the Radar to the new Bowman Regional Airport, I was asked many times “how long before the radar is back up and running?” Many people emphasized how the radar was a well needed service to our SW ND area. Something to be considered, if there was no longer a NDCMP here in Bowman County, the summer months of radar operation and maintenance funding would have to be picked up somewhere else in lieu of project operations. ARB isn’t in the Radar business and only installed their radar here to support the NDCMP. Without a NDCMP here in Bowman County, ARB would really have no need to further offer up the use of their radar and it very well could be shut down and removed for use in support of other projects.
NDCMP brings 4 pilots and 2 Meteorologists to Bowman each year for its 3 month project. Many times these people have family members or friends visit Bowman during this project as well. Additional ARB and WMI employees travel here from time to time overseeing project operations, and attend the Bowman County Fair where they have a booth to educate and answer questions on the project operations.
A direct economic impact of approximately $43,472 comes from having these 6 personnel and 2 aircraft in Bowman County for the 3 month project. This doesn’t account for anything else these people purchase here such as automotive supplies/parts, cleaning supplies, household items, movie tickets, ammunition, fishing licenses and supplies, liquor sales, haircuts or any associated revenue from their visiting friends/family/extra ARB personnel hotel rooms, fuel, food, aircraft fuel and hangering etc.
$16,448 in Aircraft fuel sales; $824 aircraft maintenance; $5700 for housing rent during project; $19,000 estimated food and dinning; $1500 estimated automotive fuel sales.
Project personnel attend/support several local sights and events, spending an estimated $1200, some of which included: Burgers in the Park in both Bowman and Scranton, Bowman County Fair Events, Derby, Rousey Rec Center, Movie Theater, Sweetwater Golf Course, Scranton Community Golf Course, and Fishing local Lakes and Dams
The 4 project pilots provided a combined total of 110 hours in Flight instruction, ground school, and Biennial flight reviews to local pilots this past year. They helped 3 newly certificated pilots complete flight instruction requirements for their ratings this summer. The pilots also rented a local aircraft for approximately 10 flight hours to go site-seeing.
Project personnel helped around Bowman Regional Airport during the airport fly-in, and put in approximately 85 hours helping with airport grounds keeping.
Southwestern North Dakota is a hard place to keep small community businesses operating, attract new businesses, and bring in outside revenue. I think that the benefits and economic impact that the North Dakota Cloud Modification Project brings to Bowman County needs to be considered when we vote during this coming General Election.
- Brent Kline
Bottom Line Aviation (Bowman Regional Airport)
