DENVER -- The Denver Water Board isn't putting a lot of faith in Mother Nature this winter when it comes to increasing our snow pack. On Wednesday, the board approved a plan for nearly $400,000 in cloud seeding during the coming months.

Cloud seeding puts silver iodide into the atmosphere with the goal of artificially producing rain or snow. Silver iodide crystals are thought to absorb moisture and increase snowfall. Last year, the board spent $700,000 on seeding and they say precipitation increased in the areas that were targeted.

Although board members admit that the snow could be a coincidence and seeding is scientifically unproved, they're still going to roll the dice and fund cloud seeding.

"I think the lesser risk is to spend the money on cloud seeding than to run the risk of running the reservoirs down," said Chips Barry, with the Denver Water Board.

Seeding by Western Weather Consultants in Durango starts in November and goes through March. It will target a five-county area, making up the upper South Platte basin.

Cloud-seeding machines fill passing clouds with silver iodide crystals that bind to water particles, pulling them earthward. The method is not new in Colorado. It has been used by governments and ski resorts for decades.

Bill Jensen, head of operations at Vail Mountain, said an analysis of the past 16 years of cloud seeding in Vail showed a 15 percent increase in inches of snowfall.