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1.3. Current field programs. - Project Skywater has one currently active field operation. the High Plains Cooperative Program (HIPLEX). involving three study sites. Two major environmental investigations are also being pursued. in the Uinta ~buntains of Utah and the Sierra Nevada of California. The field phases of three other field projects were completed in the spring of 1975. Studies and evaluations of the data gathered in them, including meteorological and environmental studies. are sched- uled for final reporting in 1977. The field operations of these projects are described in paragraph 1.5 as an example of typical activities. 1.3.1. High Plains Cooperative Program (lIIPLEX). - The purpose of HIPLEX is to develop an effective technology. scientifically and socially acceptable. for precipitation management in the High Plains (fig. 1-2). The immediate objective is to attain an effective technology to manage showery. warm-season cumulus precipitation. with the prospect that investigation of precip- itation from cyclonic and upslope clouds will follow. The pro- gram began field activities in May 19i5. and is scheduled to continue during the summer seasons of the next 5 to 7 years. Field activities will include operation of all available program equipment and instrumentation. As currently constituted. HIPLEX includes three field sites (fig. 1-3). one each near Mil~3 City. ~bnt.. Colby-Goodland. Kan.. and Big Spring-Snyder, Tex. ~faps of each HIPLEX project area are included in chapter 2. paragraph 2.12 (figs. 2-14, 2-15, and 2-16). Activities described in this Environmental Statement will be performed at each site, though not necessarily throu~l- out an entire season. Emphasis will be placed on airborne seed- ing, with some linited seeding from the ground. Only clouds within about 100 kilometers (65 mi) of the proj ect radar will be seeded, but observations may be made over an area well in excess of the 31,000 square kiiometers (12,000 mi2) primary area of each site. Silver iodide, solid carbon dioxide (dry ice). and a mixture of urea, ammonium nitrate, and water will be the primary seeding agents. Other hygroscopic materials, such as salt, may have limited use. One or Dore scientifically instru~ented air- craft will fly in and around selected clouds at each research site (figs. 1-4. 1-5 and 1-6). One or more seeding aircraft will operate on all but a few days when seedable clouds are expected. Specific goals of the High Plains Cooperative Program are within the four components of a precipitation management system. The four components are analysis, recognition, treatnent, and eval- uation. Detailed description are contained in t~e publications 1-6