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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V. Costs and Benefits of Weather Modification

The costs and benefits of weather modification change from the demonstration
phase when related tests and studies are being done to confirm the technology
to the time when maximum water production is underway and extensive testing is
no longer required. During the demonstration phase costs will depend on the
option chosen, but will average between $6 and $9 million per year for tests
in just two subbasins. Benefits from the demonstration program include a proven
technology anp an estimated 200,000 acre-feet of water produced annually for a
5-year period valued at $8.4 million per year.

Costs for an operational program will vary between $11 and $15 million per year
depending upon the final decision regarding ground seeding or aircraft seeding
and the continuing requirements for monitoring.

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Partial economic benefits were determined in 1981 using the conservative estimate
for water supply increases of 1,315,000 acre-feet with the Upper Basin as input
to the Bureau.s Colorado River Simulation System model.. The results of the
analysis indicated that precipitation augmentation would produce estimated econo-
mic benefits totaling at least $80 million annually (1981 dollars) from the
following sources: $29 million from increased hydroelectric capacity and power
generation based on coal replacement cost of 20 mills per kilowatt-hour, $41
million from salinity reduction using an average value of $450,000 for each milli-
gram per liter reduction in dissolved solids at Imperial Dam, and $10.5 million
from water supplies to reduce deficits and for new uses.

Additional benefits would be realized from the increased water supply in the
Lower Basin from seeding in the Mogollon Rim area in Arizona and New Mexico
and from ~dditional water supplies produced in adjacent basins. For planning
purposes an estimated value of $50 per acre-foot was used for the 298,000 acre-
feet of augmentation from the Mogollon Rim and $25 per acre-foot for the
533,000 acre-feet of increase in the adjacent basins. Therefore, total benefits
are assumed to be $109 million annually. It is estimated that the entire cost
of an 8-year demonstration program is less than the benefits from one year of
basinwide operations.

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