PUB00145 ‎(2)‎

• Year: 2005
• Title: Western States Water Council - Seattle, WA., July 13-15, 2005
• CWCB Section: Administration
• Description: Western States Water Council - Seattle, WA., July 13-15, 2005
• Publications - Doc Type: Water Policy

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D-R-A-F-T
RESOLUTION
of the
WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL
in support of the
Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Act
Seattle, Washington
Julyl5, 2005

WHEREAS, the 109th Congress is considering Senate Bill 517, the Weather Modification
Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005, to develop and implement a
comprehensive and coordinated national policy and cooperative program, and authorizes $10 million
per year for fiscal years 2005 through 2014 to enhance federal support for weather modification,
promote research and development, and provide financial assistance to private and public entities; and

WHEREAS, western states support operational weather modification projects, realize the
benefits derived from weather modification, and permit weather modification activities for various
purposes ranging from snow augmentation to hail suppression, under varying state statutes and
programs; and

WHEREAS, much of the West depends on water that originates from snow, and the American
Meteorological Society (1998), World Meteorological Organization (2001), and the National Academy
of Sciences (2003) have all found that there is strong physical and statistical evidence that wintertime
weather modification activities can create additional snowpack in watersheds; and

'VHEREAS, the Weather Modification Association and the North American Interstate Weather
Modification Council support a "coordinated national program" to further the science, understanding,
and utility of weather modification; and

'VHEREAS, several Council member states are also members of the North American Interstate
Weather Modification Council (California, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma,
New Mexico, and Kansas) and work together to facilitate the exchange of interstate atmospheric
resource management information; and

WHEREAS, western states would benefit greatly from a coordinated national program that
advances the field of weather modification as it relates to precipitation enhancement for water
management - and assists in the scientific evaluation of western states weather modification
operations, while complying with related state laws.; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has in the past provided much needed technical
assistance and funding through the Weather Damage Modification Program for the benefit of western
states.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Western States Water Council strongly
supports enactment of the Weather Modification Technology Transfer Act of 2005 (S. 517). with the
addition of a provision assuring compliance with applicable state laws.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council also supports continued funding for the
federal Weather Damage Modification Program.

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