WMOD00558

• Project Name: Project Skywater, Sierra Cooperative Pilot Project
• Title: Project Skywater, Sierra Cooperative Pilot Project - Fall 1984 Status Report
• Date: 12/1/1984
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

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1. Introduction

This report is intended to prov:ide the reader with a perspecti ve on the

SCPP (Sierra Cooperative Pilot Project). The project's development has

been based on direct observations of clouds and precipitation processes,

the results of which are being assimilated in a sound physical approach

to a cloud seeding technology for the Sierra Nevada. . It will become

apparent to the reader that weather modification is an evolving field

of science, which has been advanced in recent years through the application

of the newest technologies in remote sensing and in-situ observations

of clouds and cloud systems. SCPP too has evol ved as new knowledge is

gained from these instruments.

SCPP is conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation in cooperation with the

States of California and Nevada, local government agencies, and pri vate

firms conducting operational cloud seeding projects in the same general

area. It was conceived in the early 1970' s in the hopes that a viable

seeding technology could be developed to increase precipitation and runoff

as a possible way to alleviate future water problems in California,

including salinity problems in the San Joaquin delta. The program

officially began with the signing of a cooperative agreement between

the State of California and the Bureau of Reclamation in February 1973.

The next 3 years were taken up with design studies, including environmental

assessments. During 1974, a sE~ries of 21 public meetings was held in

California and Nevada to disCllSS these environmental issues and the

responses were analyzed. The g'eneral conclusions were that the project

would not involve serious environmental impacts, but that environmental

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