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<br />such applications will significantly affect the range of <br />diversity of small-mammal species." [2, p. 3-131] <br /> <br />The effect of additional precipitation on furbearers, reptiles, insects, <br />and birds has not been considered a controlling factor to the well-being <br />of the various species. Migratory birds would not be affected by <br />winter snowpack increase unless highly augmented snowpacks persisted so <br />as to interfere with breeding seasons or food supply - an unlikely <br />occurrence. Residents are well adapted to conditions of an area, and <br />vary their location/elevation in alpine settings according to weather <br />conditions. Habitat destruction or lateration is the most serious <br />factor in the well-being of bird populations. Cloud seeding will not <br />contribute to this occurrence. Increased snowmelt will benefit marshes <br />and meadows and the animals that inhabit them. <br /> <br />One of the design considerations for the proposed demonstration phase <br />and for operational activities is to determine the type of monitoring <br />required to determine the response of large and small mammals and their <br />well-being to increases in snowfall and snowpack. <br /> <br />Knowledge of the potential impact of precipitation management on the <br />principal components of the aquatic ecosystems is limited. An important <br />question is whether increased snow depth and duration will worsen or <br />extend winterkill occurrences. Some possible effects of widespread and <br />prolonged application of precipitation management have been studied. <br />Analysis has included studies of the effects of increased runoff on <br />water temperature, the physical state of the streambed as it may affect <br />spawning and egg hatch, food supply for the fry, and the possible <br />effect of cloud seeding agents on water quality. Other factors were <br /> <br />33 <br />