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<br />Section 1. <br /> <br />SUMMARY <br /> <br />Robert D. Elliott,l M. ASCE <br />Conrad G. Keyes, /r.,2 F. ASCE <br />Roger F. Reinking3 <br /> <br />1.1 INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />Cloud seeding technology has developed over the last 45 years as a <br />means for augmenting precipitation, primarily in regions where addi- <br />tional precipitation is viewed as an economic asset. The augmentation <br />possible is fractional, and where successfu.l, may be in the range of 5% <br />to 20%; however, this addition over the farm belt would be helpful to <br />agriculture, and the addition over mountainous terrain would benefit <br />the hydroelectric power industry and irrigation interests. The technol- <br />ogy is not without uncertainties; these must be recognized and incor- <br />porated into decisions regarding its use. Also, a perceived wider <br />interaction of this augmentation with the environment and with society <br />in general has brought peripheral issues into focus. Because the smallest <br />possible scale of treatment covers several hundred hectares, it has been <br />necessary to develop public consensus within an intended target area. <br /> <br />lRetired Chief Scientist, North American Weather Consultants, 1293 West 2200 <br />South, Salt Lake City, UT 84119. <br />2Principal Engineer, Planning, United States Section, International Boundary <br />and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, Building C-310, 4171 North <br />Mesa Street, EI Paso, TX 79902-1441. <br />3Research Meteorologist and Former Director of Atmospheric Modification <br />Program, Environmental Technology Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmos- <br />pheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce, Boulder, CO <br />80303-3328. <br />