Correspondences Related to CREST and Funding of CREST Program

• Description: Correspondences Related to CREST and Funding of CREST Program
• State: CO
• Title: Correspondences Related to CREST and Funding of CREST Program
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Correspondence

THE`AITERNATIVES technology associated with this
method is not adequate for the
Cloud seeding and the resulting reservoirs on the Colorado River.
increase of snowpack is but one of VA etatio
several resource management tools
available to meet the Basin's
g n management on forest
watersheds to increase runoff is
water
needs. Other methods and concepts
another method being researched.
This
are potentially useful in our efforts
approach, combined with weather
modification holds more promise of
to add to the volume of water in the
Colorado. Prior to developing the
increasing runoff than if the two
plan for the CREST program, five
methods are employed separately.
possible measures for augmenting the
river were identified and considered
Of the methods considered, weather
for use either as combined efforts or '
.modification has the most potential
individual projects. The five
, for delivering results. In
methods were:
;comparison with the other
-
'alternatives mentioned, cloud seeding
-- Importation of water from other
offers several advantages. The
- technology has been developed to a
river basins
-- Desalting of seawater and
level which suggests that an
geothermal brines
operational program is now possible.
-- Evaporation suppression :'involved.
No permanent construction costs are
Program costs, which
-- Vegetation management to increase=
include the operation and maintenance
runoff
-- Weather modification to increase _
of aircraft, and ongoing
environmental monitoring and
snowpack and runoff `
protection, are small in comparison
to the-operational benefits. Perhaps
Two of the options considered,
the most attractive advantage of
importation -and desalination, are not
weather modification is its
practical because of the high
adaptability and responsiveness to a
construction costs, unacceptable
variety of conditions. The decision
energy requirements-and environmental
to employ seeding can be made on a
impacts.' Evaporation - suppression has -
year -to -year, season -to- season,
also been considered, however the
storm -to -storm basis.
CREST PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of CREST is to
demonstrate the effectiveness of
The CREST program is designed to
cloud seeding technology as a means
provide the foundation upon which a
of increasing snowpack. Once proven,
Basinwide operational cloud seeding
the technology can be applied in a
plan can be based. As a
Basinwide operational program. The
demonstration program, CREST will
CREST program will allow the most
address five principal objectives:
efficient and cost - effective weather
modification methods to be developed
-- Demonstration of Technology
before proceeding with a furl
-- Production-of Water
operation.
-- Confirnatton of Increases
-- Assessment of Social and-
CREST has been designed to produce
Environmental Impacts
the highest possible amount of water
--Reduction of Risks, '
through cloud seeding while meeting
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