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Each of these programs includes specific studies of the environment, social and econ01ltic conc:litions, and the legal requirements of the particular site. Four distinct climatic regimes with differing environmental, agronomic, ani social characteristics are represented in the precipitation enhancement program. Each project considers the total area affected by the cloud seeding, and each stresses not only statistical evaluation of seeding effects but also understanding the chain of physical events leading to that effect. a. Presen tly Approved Programs The three precipitation enhancement programs authorized for the FY 1982- 86 period (see figure V-I) are the Colorado River Basin Project (CUP), the Sierra Cooperative Pilot Project (SCPP), and the High Plains Cooperative Program (HIP LEX ). (1) Colorado River Basin Project. The Water an~ Power Resources Service conducted the Colorado River Basin PUot Project in tlle San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado from 1970 to 1975. Project results indicated the need for further technology refinement and confirmation, mainly in opportunity recognition and operational implementation procedures, before a large augmentation program could be undertaken. The Secretary of the Interior requested that a program be planned for weather modification in the Basin. In F! 1978, tVPRS was specifically directed and funded by Congress "to prepare plans for the Colorado River Augmentation Program." Program funds in FY 1978 and 1979 were used for planning and research aimed toward sharpening the scientific objectives, developing operational implementation procedures, and providing public and scientific review of project plans. The goal of the CRBP is to confirm the efficacy of techniques for increasing snowfall from winter clouds that occur over the Colorado River Basin and to design a program for the operational implementation of those techniques. The Sanjuan Mountains have been tentatively selected. as the site of the core project because: (1) there is more physical knowledge about storms and cloud seeding in that area, (2) continuing support for small commercial cloud seeding projects in that area indicates public acceptance of weather modification programs, (3) its contribution to the total streamflow of the Upper Colorado River Basin is substantial, and (4) some environmental studies have been completed for this area. A successful demonstration project in this area will provide the basis for planning, design, and justification of ~~tending operational projects in other mountain regions of the Colorado River Basin and elsewhere. The Demonstration Project (see figure V-2) will be a 3-phase effort consisting or an Initiation Phase, a Pre-Demonstration Phase, and a Demonstration Phase. Table V-1 shows the scheduling for this program and for the others to be discussed later in this section. - SO -