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<br />- 2 - <br /> <br />mountain ranges that are the best cloud seeding targets for supplying additional water to the conflict areas. This <br />map should foster discussion of strategies to lessen the effects of droughts in the West. <br />The CWCB is a member of the North American Interstate Weather Modification Council (NAIWMC), <br />joining nine other Western states in seeking assistance and Federal partnerships. NAIWMC estimates that nearly <br />$15 million per year is spent by state and local entities on WM, despite little Federal funding in the field. The last <br />Federal funding for WM research was in 2003 for the Bureau of Reclamation's Weather Damage Modification <br />Program (WDMP). WDMP activities are expected to conclude in 2005, <br />The CWCB endorses a permanent Congressional authorization to fund operations and evaluations, <br />modeled on the successful Federal-State partnership demonstrated by the WDMP. States will require the <br />leadership of either the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation or the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration in these <br />endeavors. We may also look to the recently approved Wyoming WM program, which provides state funding of <br />$8.85 million for five years of operations and evaluation. California is also planning an operational/research WM <br />program, under the auspices of the California Energy Commission. <br />Cloud seeding to augment snowpack is, fortunately, the most reliable form of large-scale WM. The <br />Weather Modification Association, World Meteorological Organization, American Meteorological Society and <br />the National Academy of Sciences all state that there is strong evidence for seasonal precipitation increases over <br />natural precipitation, on the order of 10%. To achieve such increases, well-designed projects must be operated <br />on a long-term and continuing basis, not just during droughts. Such projects will help fill reservoirs for use <br />during times of greater need. The cost of WM is about $10 per acre-foot, making it an attractive alternative to <br />desalinization (approximately $700/AF) and construction of new reservoirs (approximately $1000-5000/AF). <br />Given the typical costs of water for agricultural purposes, WM achieves benefit-to-cost ratios approaching 40 to <br />1. <br />We encourage renewed interest into a cooperative program that commits to streamflow augmentation <br />along our major rivers. Pursuant to Section 201 of the 1968 Colorado River Basin Project Act, the Congress <br />declared that "satisfaction of the requirements of the Mexican Water Treaty from the Colorado River constitutes a <br />national obligation, which shall be the first obligation of any water augmentation project planned pursuant to <br />Section 201 of this Act as authorized by Congress." Augmentation could take on several forms, including WM <br />and imports from other River Basins such the Columbia. WM research showed potential in several areas during <br />late 1970s and 1980s, but subsequent wet periods reduced interest in exploiting this potential. Given the current <br />drought, weather modification again merits further investigation. Continually seeding storms will realize the <br />aforementioned 10% seasonal water increases. <br />Finally, there is growing evidence that air pollution has already been modifying our weather and climate <br />and is inhibiting precipitation downwind of urban areas. Satellite pictures of clouds, climate studies, and ground <br />measurements indicate that air pollution is changing atmospheric aerosols critical to precipitation formation, <br />thereby decreasing rain and snow. Weather modification allows us to use the same processes in reverse, <br />offsetting precipitation decreases caused by air pollution. <br />Over the past three decades, advances in radar and satellite observations, coupled with improved seeding <br />materials have allowed cloud seeding to become more effective than ever before. The CWCB believes that WM <br />is an underutilized, cost effective, and credible form of water resource management that can mitigate the lingering <br />effects of drought and need for additional water for new water projects. Successful implementation of WM <br />benefits to water management will require renewed commitment, follow-through, faith, and patience. We <br />encourage a dialogue at the WGA about our common challenges and strategies for basin-wide drought mitigation. <br /> <br />Attachments: <br />. CWCB Weather Modification Resolution <br />. Potential Wintertime Cloud Seeding Areas to Supply Future Water Conflict Regions (Map) <br />. Weather Modification Programs in Westem U.S. and Canada for 2005 (Map) <br />. Frequently Asked Questions about Cloud Seeding to Augment Mountain Snowpack <br /> <br />Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning <br />