WSP13037

• File Number: 8280.10
• Description: CREST - Colorado River Enhancement Snowpack Test
• State: CO
• Author: Unknown - Crest members/BOR?
• Title: Briefing Document for the Colorado River Enhancement Snowpack Test
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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The second 5-year phase would feature a randomized seeding program in a
single subbasin. It would emphasize both the evaluation of seeding
techniques and the quantification of the water produced. Additional
studies in the other candidate subbasins would provide information to
facilitate seeding activities aver the entire Basin. Ground-based
seeding studies would be conducted to determine its reliability.
Basin-wide operations could be initiated after satisfactory completion
of this phase.

The advantages of the lO-year program include additional time to
develop and install equipment, prepare environmental and social docu-
ments, and conduct public involvement. Additional time to develop an
operational design is provided. The disadvantages of this option are
that a decision on the long-term use of weather modification as a major
source of augmentation would not be made in the shortest possible time;
secondly, there would not be a potential increase in the Basin water
supply for at least 5 years.

2. a-year Program

In this option, the initial phase is reduced from 5 to 3 years, during
which existing technology, techniques, and instrumentation would be
adapted into a design for a subsequent two-subbasin demonstration
phase. Two subbasins would be instrumented for field operations in
order to help compensate for the reduced time of this option. Project
equipment, personnel, and seeding modes would be tested during calibra-
tion studies. The delivery techniques of the ground-based generators
would be tested. Environmental and social impact studies would be
conducted.

The 5-year second phase would include a randomized seeding program in
two subbasins to evaluate and quantify water supply increases possible
over the entire Basin. Additional physical measurements would be taken
to obtain information needed to optimize precipitation increases from
cloud seeding. Concurrent studies would be conducted in the remaining
subbasins to obtain information to determine under what conditions the
seeding methods used in this phase could be transferred to other
subbasins, or what modifications would be required.

ihe advantages of this option include increased water supply in two
subbasins would be available after 3 years. Also, the intensive twO-
subbasin program permits reduction of the first phase time requirement
from 5 to3 years without incurring undue scientific and social risks.
The two-subbasin concept also improves the prospects of the transfer of
the technology from the test subbasins to the remaining c3ndiaate areas
~ithin the Basin. The disadv~ntages of this option are that the
shorter time periOd al lows less time for imorovement of the existing
technology. Also, this option has the highest total cost of the three
act ion apt ions.

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