WMOD00301 ‎(2)‎

• Title: Conceptual Plan to Develop Water Augmentation by Weather Modification in the Colorado River
• Date: 5/14/1979
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

D R AFT

SECTION II - FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY

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The Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-537)
clearly has a twofold objective: development and augmentation lito
provide a program for the further comprehensive development of the
water resources of the Colorado River Basin and for the provision of
additional and adequate water supplies for use in the upper as well
as the lower Colorado River Basin" (Section 102a). This Act, pursuant
to the Reclamation Laws, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
construct the Central Arizona Project and Colorado River Storage
Project participating units and under Title II to prepare and implement
an augmentation plan to meet the water requirements of these new
projects, existing projects and water allotments, and the 1944 Water
Treaty with Mexico. The Act also includes provisions for allocation
and reimbursement of costs and other funding arrangements, including
those for augmentation works to provide the adequate water supplies.

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Augmentation was one of the main issues in the deliberations of this
Act since projects were to be built with a questionable future
natural water supply. The Act defines augmentation as "'augmentl or
'augmentation' when used herein with reference to water, means to
increase the supply of the Colorado River or its tributaries by
introduction of water into the Colorado River system, which is in
addition to the natural supply of the system" (Section 606g). During

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