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<br />status of seeding equipment and weather measurement systems <br />~ Logic to prepare periodic status reports and disseminate to selected sites <br />~ Logic to archive received infonnation <br />~ Logic for override and easy updating of selected criteria such as for seeding <br />~ Logic to test cloud seeding suspension criteria <br />~ Logic to perform quality control and report results <br /> <br />The computer software should be installed in the field office main computer server that can communicate <br />with the Reclamation and data analysis group intranets. The software system must have flexibility to <br />incorporate additional seeding or data gathering equipment. This system will act as a controller of cloud <br />seeding (with override), provider of systems and cloud seeding status, and enable data quality checking <br />and archive. The software and communications system should be developed as early as possible for <br />adequate .testing and necessary revisions. Development of this software will be an important goal of the <br />design phase. <br /> <br />Establishment of the cloud seeding criteria for incorporation into the controlling software will involve the <br />results of field data gathering and analysis. Criteria may differ from one seeding device to another <br />because of local terrain and other conditions. The criteria logic system must have the flexibility for easy <br />revisions. An experienced programmer will be needed to handle software development. <br /> <br />3.8. Design Phase Costs <br /> <br />When the decision is made to proceed further with seeding the Headwaters Region, a detailed planning of <br />the limited area prototype test seeding program should be developed along with a detailed budget in <br />current year dollars. Program planning should proceed for selected test studies and modeling, and the <br />equipment and manpower resources needed. Once a program plan is well developed, serious budget <br />planning can proceed. Past test programs have cost several hundred thousand to several million dollars <br />per year, depending upon many diverse factors. An estimate of costs for conducting the design phase <br />work is given here for initial planning purposes. <br /> <br />Given in table 3.2 are the project design costs estimated to be $1,498,040, including environmental and <br />permitting cost of $293,000. The design costs do not include equipment purchase costs. The design <br />phase is estimated to continue for approximately three years. Environmental compliance costs are <br />estimated at $275,000 for an EIS of moderate complexity that requires two to three years to complete. <br />The cloud seeding plan development costs are estimated at $1,093,640. Modeling costs are $164,990 for <br />three years. Two winters of field studies aimed at testing seeding procedures and cloud responses in the <br />Headwaters Region will cost $779,400. The costs of evaluation plan development and estimation of <br />design-phase test seeding are $61,360. <br /> <br />The design phase field studies will likely involve the letting of a contract to provide most of the analytical <br />and support personnel, office facilities, and supplies necessary to conduct the physical studies and <br />analyses, and provide design function support. During the two-year effort, the goal will be to determine <br />the winter meteorological conditions of the Headwaters Region and the seeding approach for achieving <br />precipitation increases in the various weather scenarios presented by nature. Field studies and cloud <br />modeling will yield a design for the operational seeding phase. The analysis effort will conclude with a <br />report that presents a cloud treatment plan for the Headwaters Region, equipment and personnel <br />requirements, and an estimate of precipitation increase and runoff from seeding. <br /> <br />Other work tasks of the design phase will entail contracting. These include site surveying, modeling, <br /> <br />14 <br />