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can be adequate to operate automated seeding and telecommunications systems. Additionally, some <br />automated data collection systems are expected to be implemented in the operational seeding phase to <br />assist in evaluating seeding results and maintain information for environmental awareness needs. <br />These systems too must be tested in the design phase. <br />• The conduct of an operational program over the relatively large Headwaters Region will cause <br />1 scrutiny from the scientific community, the general public, and water interests of the Platte River. <br />Water users will be concerned about scientific proof of additional water. Design studies must <br />produce a viable operational program plan with a credible evaluation component to deal with what is <br />likely to be considerable program scrutiny. <br />3.2. Design Phase Components <br />The design phase must produce answers to questions concerning influences on cloud seeding of the <br />regional winter weather, cloud characteristics of clouds that form in different barriers of the Headwaters <br />Region, and other terrain related and intra -area influences. Questions must be addressed such as the <br />average extent storms are seedable. Some issues will be quite difficult to resolve such as determining the <br />impact on cloud seedability of emissions from power plants located upwind of the western barrier (in <br />many storm cases). The accuracy of cloud modeling for the Headwaters Region must be determined <br />early in the program. <br />Design studies should be selected and structured to speed the advent of the operational program, yet <br />provide the necessary answers and support that will withstand scientific scrutiny. The proposed design <br />phase time length is recommended to be three years. This phase length fits well with obtaining permits <br />for installing field equipment, conducting test seeding operations, and satisfying environmental <br />compliance. Additionally, answers needed for operational seeding design will require two years of field <br />1 studies. Some randomized seeding trials should be conducted to make comparisons in the highly varying <br />conditions of the Headwaters Region. <br />1 <br />1 <br />t <br />fl <br />1 <br />Some components of the design phase field studies are outlined in the following. <br />• Conduct weather and cloud modeling during the first year of the program. Analyze modeling results <br />and include previous information from the Headwaters Region as appropriate. Survey and analyze <br />terrain characteristics of barriers involved in the seeding program. <br />Plan a limited field program and install and test automated field equipment in the late summer and <br />fall of the first year. Install a communications system that includes field equipment and an operations <br />center. <br />Conduct limited field studies for two winters that include seeding trials in which the transport and <br />diffusion of seeding created ice particles are analyzed. Evaluate results and establish an operational <br />program in the third year of the design phase. Randomized results should be properly analyzed to <br />update estimates of additional water from seeding and develop an appropriate evaluation plan for the <br />operational phase. <br />Field studies and cloud modeling will yield a design for the operational seeding phase. The analysis <br />effort will conclude with a report that presents an operational cloud treatment plan for the Headwaters <br />Region, including specification of equipment and personnel requirements, recommended data collection, <br />0 <br />