Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />002510 <br /> <br />\ <br /> <br />These two sites we~e selected because they a~e mo~e likely to be developed <br />than many of the other p~oposed sites. <br /> <br />Possible effects of cloud seeding on streamflow we~e estimated by ~elating <br />flow to Ap~il 30 snow water equivalents in the headwate~s regions of the San <br />Kiguel and F~ying Pan Rivers. This p~ocedu~e is simila~ to procedures used <br />by the U.S. Department of Agrlcultu~e, Snow Su~vey Unit to estimate ~unoff. <br /> <br />the value of the estimated additional ene~gy p~oduced each year at the San <br />Miguel River site is about $7.100, an increase of about five percent. <br />Assuming that cloud seeding could inc~ease st~eamflow annually fo~ the life <br />of the project, $7,100 would constitute a permanent inc~ease in the value of <br />the installation. t~eated as an annuity, $7,100 increases the present value <br />of the p~oject by about $58,000. <br /> <br />The value of the estimated additional power p~oduced at the Reudi Rese~voir <br />site is about $77,000, an increase of sbout ten pe~cent. Treated as an <br />annuity, $77,000 adds about $630,000 to the p~esent value of the project. <br /> <br />Conclusions <br /> <br />Inc~eases in st~eam flow that could result from winter cloud seeding have <br />two effects on the output f~om small-scale hyd~opowe~ facilities: <br /> <br />o total electrical energy produced increases, and <br />o byd~o gene~ators operate close~ to full capacity. <br /> <br />Because generators operate closer to full capacity, the estimated value of <br />the eQe~gy output increases by a larger pe~centage than estimated energy <br />p~oduction 'inc~eases. At the Telluride site a 15 pe~cent increase in April <br />30 snow wate~ equivalent increases electric energy output by 3.5 pe~ceQt and <br />raises the value of energy output by 5.0 percent. At the Reudi site a 15 <br />pe~cent snow water equivalent increase ~alses energy output by.6.1 percent <br />and ita value by 9.9 percent. In both cases, estimated inc~eases in the <br />value of power att~ibutable to modest inc~ements in stream flow are <br />substantial. especially when considered over the expected life of the <br />p~ojects. <br /> <br />It is difficult to draw comp~ehensive conclusions about all small-scale <br />bydropower sites f~om the two aites that we have studied because developers <br />use diverse technologies and face diverse situations. Water rights could <br />play an important ~ole. Developers who have senior rights p~obably would be <br />less affected by incremental increases in streamflow than developers with <br />junior righta. Based on the results of tbe two sites examined, howeve~, we <br />conclude that possible increases in streamflow from cloud seeding could <br />increase significsntly the amount and value of the energy output from <br />small-scale hydropower facilities in Colo~ado. <br /> <br />ii <br />