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<br />.. <br /> <br />-----~._.. <br />~' <br /> <br />Preliminal'y field tests are required to develop a project <br />design. <br /> <br />Dry ice is the seeding material which can be most easily <br />used to identify physical processes withiri the cloud. <br /> <br />THE SIERRA COOPERATIVE PILOT PROJECT <br /> <br />,: <br /> <br />I! <br />I' <br />I <br />i <br />I <br />!. <br />\: <br />t <br />I' <br />i! <br />:: <br />111 <br />tI <br />!i <br />I. <br />'1 <br />;1 <br />" <br />II <br />I <br />I <br />j <br />.j <br />1: <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />:1 <br />! <br />I! <br /> <br />I, <br />il <br />~ I <br />I: <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />! <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />- A randomized target-control design requires the least <br />amount of time to achieve a significant test. <br /> <br />- Radar, radiometers, satellites, and ground sensors with <br />real-time reporting capability interfaced by computer <br />can now be used to obtain the control required for <br />forecasting. <br /> <br />- Seeding materials can be most accurately placed by use <br />of aircraft. <br /> <br />The OARN budget for the Colorado River Basin during FY 1980 and <br />FY 1981 is $2l5,000 and $375,000. This budget will permit continued <br />planning and coordination, initiation of an environmental assessment, and <br />some equipment procurement. The project has been given the highest pri- <br />ority within Project Skywater and will be accelerated as quickly as bud- <br />get allowances permit. <br /> <br />The SCPP (Sierra Cooperative pilot Project) is the only winter oro- <br />graphic field research program operated by Project Skywater today. The <br />program was initiated at the request of the Service's local water man- <br />agers. The program has been built on a carefully constructed base of <br />environmental a\vareness and public involvement. The project started in <br />FY 1973 \-lith an assessment contract for "A Plan of Investigation for <br />Assessing the Environmental Impact of Snow Augmentation in the Sierra <br />Nevada, California." The plan, prepared by San Diego State University's <br />Center for Regional Environmental Studies, vl'Bs jointly funded through a <br />Memorandum of Understanding with the California Department of Water <br />Resources. OARM and the state conducted 2l public meetings between June <br />_ and September 1974 in California and Nevada to present a proposed research <br />plan and involve the public. Public reaction at this stage was a crucial <br />element in the decision to move ahead. Favorable public sentiment to the <br />proposed research permitted OARH to move into the next phase of planning. <br />One measure of potential increased water supply from the Twelve Basin <br />Investigation prepared by North American Heather Consultants. The study <br />indicated, potential increase of 300,000 acre-feet per year in the <br />American River Basin and over lOO,OOO acre-feet per year in the Tahoe- <br />Truckee Basin (3). A second source of support came from The Special <br />Regional Weather Modification Conference held in Novenlber 1975 at Burl- <br />ingame, California. The participants included atmospheric scientists, <br />ecologists, sociologists, lawyers, and administrators.. Projects run by <br />utility companies in California have been seeding Sierra snowstorms for <br />up to 28 years. The evidence indicated that streamflow increases aver- <br />aging between 4 and 8 percent were being achieved with existing techno- <br />logy. However, it was agreed that research is needeQ to improve the <br />criteria for identifying weather systems suitable for modification, <br />seeding methods, and evaluation. <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />Foehner <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />! <br />I <br />! <br />I <br />! <br /> <br />\ <br />II <br />