WMOD00116

• Sponsor Name: MWDSC
• Project Name: Weather Modification White Paper
• Title: Weather Modification for Precipitation Augmentation and Its Potential Usefulness to the Colorado River Basin States
• Prepared For: Colorado River 7 Basin States
• Prepared By: Tom Ryan - Metro Water District of Southern California
• Date: 10/1/2005
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................1

Background......... ................................... ...... .... ............. ... .............. .............. 1
History......................................................................................................................... I
Authority ..................................................................................................................... 3
The Primary Winter Cloud and Precipitation Process ................................................ 4

Agencies and Programs..m......._........_......._.................................................................6
Weather Modification Policy Statements ................................................................... 8
110 CURRENT ISSUES 0.............0....0.................................0.........10

Purpose and Need ..................................................................................................... 10
Programs in Operation............................................................................... ] 1

Intemational.............................................................................................................. II
National..................................................................................................................... 12
Colorado.................................................................................................................... 12
Utah........................................................................................................................... 14
Nevada ...................................................................................................................... 15
Wyoming................................................................................................................... 16
New Mexico.............................................................................................................. i 6

Issues. ....... .... ...... ....... ...................................... ........... ..... ........................... ] 7
The Need for Funding............................................................................................... 17
Program Costs........................................................................................................... 17
Evidence Versus Proof and Uncertainties................................................................. 17

Societal Attitudes............ ........ .... ....... .......... .......... ..... .......... ............ ........ ..... ........... 19
Environmental........................................................................................................... 20
Anthropogenic Effects ..............................................................................................20

Legal Issues............................................................................................................... 21
Conclusions on Effectiveness ................................................................................... 21.III. USEFULNESS TO THE BASIN STATES........................22

Drought Management ...............................................................................................22
Approaches ............................................................................................................... 23
Identification of Target Areas ................................................................................... 24

Potential Projects ......................................................................................................26
Expand Ongoing Operations................................................................................. 26
Potential New Project Areas ................................................................................. 27

Next Steps .......................................................................................,..................... 28
IVo CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..............29
Summary of Major Findings .....................................................................29

Recommendations .....................................................................................29

REFERENCES ............................................................................................31

APPENDICES
Appendix A
Appendix B

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