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In 1972, Reclamation conducted emergency drought-relief cloud seeding projects in Arizona, Oklahoma, a,nd Texas. These projects were carried out at the request of the States and with their cooperation, using funds provided by the President's Office of Emergency Preparedness. The Bureau's Division of Atmospheric Resources Research in the Denver Engineering and Research Center provided the planning, design, contracting, and field direction for the projects. The three projects were the precedent for Federal support of weather modification operations to help mitigate drought. A major drought affected most areas of the Western United States duri ng 1976 and 1977. By mid-July 1977, nearly two-thirds of all counties in the United States were suffering from serious drought and were designated drought emergency areas. Special drought assistance was provided by the Federal Government through the Emergency Drought Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-18, as amended). This act authorized an appropriation of $100 million for the Secretary of the Interior to make loans and grants through the Bureaus of Reclamation and Indian Affairs for mitigating the effects of this drought. Under this act, Reclamation granted $2,121,353 in nonreimbursable funds to six States for cloud seeding projects: State Grant Objective -- California $300,000 Snow increase Colorado $600,000 Snow increase Kans as $300,000 Rain increase Nevada $183,720 Rain and snow increase North Dakot a $184,133 Rain increase Utah $553,500 Rain and snow increase These drought-relief funds for cloud seeding provided supplemental support to expand State and local operations. The grants were made through the Regional Offices of Reclamation. The Division of Atmospheric Resources Research supplied technical coordination and other assistance. Reclamation also provided computer-system support. and loaned specialized equipment to the States. 7