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<br />- <br />~ --. -_.- - . --"-*'" _. .~_.. _._* <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />A second key individual would be the project coordinator/principal <br />investigator responsible for coordinating research and operational <br />activities. This would include the setting up of an operational field <br />program in keeping with the design requirements. <br /> <br />SNOWATER would be placed under the <br />Sciences Department and coordinated <br />research to take maxinum advantage <br />administration would be handled <br />administrative facilities. <br /> <br />guidance of the Atmospheric <br />as appropriate with ongoing <br />of existing.expertise. Project <br />by Alberta Research Council <br /> <br />The current Atmospheric Sciences Department research program reports <br />to two committees; the Research Council's Natural Resources Program <br />Committee and the Minister of Agriculture's Advisory Committee on <br />Weather Modification. <br /> <br />1.4 BENEFITS TO ALBERTA <br /> <br />An increase. in the average accumulated mountain snowpack of 10 to 15 <br />percent would result in 250,000 acre-feet of increased runoff in the <br />Oldman River basin. <br /> <br />The agriculture industry would be the primary beneficiary of this <br />added runoff because weather-related losses, to the extent they are <br />associated with moisture deficiency, could be alleviated with <br />additional irrigation water. Mountain snow augmentation would permit <br />improved crop production and the conversion of additional land to <br />irrigation. This extra water could be used to irrigate approximately <br />100,000 additional acres. <br /> <br />Municipal and industrial water supplies would also benefit <br />particularly during years with below normal snowpack and runoff when <br />consumer demands might otherwise go unmet. This happens to be the <br />time when lakes and reservoirs are below normal levels and have the <br />storage capacity to hold additional runoff. An example of an indirect <br />effect may be improvement in stream water quality and aquatic life as <br />a consequence of runoff increasing the dilution capacity of the water. <br /> <br />lack of snow can be detrimental to winter recreational businesses. <br />Increased snowfall offers a means to assist affected recreational <br />areas. Additional "natural snow" from cloud seeding in combination <br />with established machine-made bases would enhance winter sports <br />conditions at recreational sites. This additional snow could serve to <br />stimulate expansion of recreational areas. <br /> <br />Minimal social or economic impacts are expected since the increase in <br />snowpack will be at higher elevations where population is sparse and <br />where livestock grazing does not occur. Elevations along the major <br />highway through the Oldman River watershed are lower than those in any <br />of the pOSSible target areas. Hence, it would not be expected to <br />experience significant increases in accumulated snowfall. <br /> <br />1-5 <br />