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<br />4.0 Recent Winter Cloud Seeding Programs in the \Vestern United States <br /> <br />Eleven of the 17 western states conduct operational winter time cloud seeding programs. <br />The tenn operational is used to describe programs that arc dcsigncd and conductcd primarily to <br />produce an increase in precipitation within designated target area(s). Thcse programs are nol <br />research orientcd. although designs used in the conduct of the operational programs typically are <br />based upon the results obtained from relevant research programs. Figure 2 provides the locations <br />of operational cloud seeding programs conducted recently in the western United States (WMA <br />brochure). The programs in the plains states are summertime hail suppression and lor rain <br />increase programs. Those from the state of Colorado westward arc \vintertime precipitation <br />increase (primarily snowpack augmentation) programs. The program in northcrn New Mexico is <br />in the planning phase. Thc programs in Wyoming have bcen designed and fundcd with some <br />seeding expected 10 bcgin this spring. The wintertime programs are described in more detail <br />below. <br /> <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />Fi~ure 2 Recent Operational Cloud Seeding Programs in the Western United States <br /> <br />Some of the longest duration cloud seeding programs in the world began in the Sierra <br />Ne\'ada Mountain Range of California. Several of these programs began in the early 1960s.late <br />1950s and one dating back to 1951. A number of these programs have continued in a continuous <br />or nearly continuous fashion to the present time. Some of these programs are conducted strictly <br />to augment hydroelectric power production \\'hile others are multi-purpose (e.g.. hydroelectric <br />and irrigation or hydroelectric and municipal water resource driven). A State Water Plan <br />published for the State of California (Department of Water Resources. 2005) contains a chapter <br />on precipitation enhancement. This publication indicates that there have been 12-13 active <br />