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<br />3. PROGRAM DESIGN PHASE <br /> <br />~. <br /> <br />3.1. Background <br /> <br />Previous cloud seeding projects have provided information clearly pointing to the need for conducting a <br />design phase for a program such as proposed for the Headwaters Region. However, design studies for <br />the Headwaters Region are somewhat facilitated by the availability of results of prior studies conducted in <br />the Park Range. Cloud physics and modeling studies were conducted as part of COSE (Rauber et aI., <br />1986; Rauber and Grant, 1986; Rauber, 1987). Since the COSE studies, a high-altitude (10,520 feet) <br />laboratory known as the Storm Peak Laboratory (Borys and Wetzel, 1997), currently managed by the <br />Desert Research Institute of the University of Nevada at Reno, has been maintained for further study of <br />winter clouds and aerosols. Other Park Range data collection occurred during the mid-1960s as part of a <br />5-year program of cloud seeding investigations (Rhea et aI., 1969). Some experiments involved the <br />release of AgI and airflow tracer material to study the transport and dispersion of ground-based and <br />aircraft released cloud seeding agents. The results of studies by Rhea et al. should be used as additional <br />background information on cloud seeding in the Park Range. The previous studies will provide useful <br />information, but the proposed project is facing considerably more formidable tasks such as determining <br />the placement of more than 50 seeding devices, most likely at high elevations and in rugged terrain. <br />Placement must facilitate adequate residence time for growth of seeding created ice particles for <br />deposition in the intended target area. <br /> <br />The Grand Mesa cloud seeding studies (see appendix A, chapter 7) will also provide additional <br />background information useful to pursuing field studies in the Headwaters Region. Aircraft and surface <br />observations of seeding trials provide convincing results that cloud seeding can provide precipitation <br />increases (Super and Boe, 1988). The early 1990s seeding experiments in the Wasatch Plateau of Utah <br />(Super and Holroyd, 1994) provided additional experience in conducting cloud seeding. Aircraft and <br />surface observation were collected before, during and after seeding experiments to document <br />precipitation increases and clear evidence that clouds were seeded. <br /> <br />The design studies are needed to develop an operational seeding plan that mitigates the following existing <br />conditions in the Headwaters Region and allow for incorporation of new technologies that improve cloud <br />seeding. <br /> <br />. Terrain differs widely from study area to study area and within the Headwaters Region. Terrain <br />differences present new problems and challenges to planning and program conduct. Design studies <br />will enable determining the proper cloud treatment methods, and equipment types and numbers for <br />the terrain and weather conditions of the Headwaters Region. <br /> <br />. Cloud treatment effects must be directed at the lee side of the Park Range and Sierra Madre <br />Mountains for additional runoff into the North Platte River. Typically, targeted areas for cloud are <br />located on the windward slope. Targeting the lee slope will require study. Cloud modeling will help <br />scope this issue. <br /> <br />. Design studies will allow the testing and incorporation of new technology for the particular <br />geographic and weather circumstances of the Headwaters Region. In particular, automated seeding <br />systems must be tested in the conditions of high elevations and local cloudiness. Power is not <br />available for most likely locations, and the cost of power plants and their operation is considerable. It <br />is hoped that local solar systems and rechargeable batteries can be adequate to operate seeding and <br />telecommunications systems. Additionally, automated data collection systems are expected to be <br /> <br />8 <br />