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<br />ou~132 <br /> <br />may regenerate by drawing in warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. <br />"This transition to a new moisture source as the storm moves out to the <br />plains has very important implications regarding concerns of those who <br />worry that enhanced precipitation over the mountains may cause a <br />decrease over the plains." [8J <br /> <br />If seeding is found to affect the subsequent history of storms, the <br />results will be significant for any program contemplating precipitation <br />management. The likelihood, although considered small, must be inves- <br />tigated. The study of these questions and other environmental matters <br />will be part of the CREST design. <br /> <br />F. Minimization of Cloud Seeding Risks <br /> <br />Research and operational cloud seeding activities have resulted in identi- <br />fication of certain recurring questions related to enhancement of winter <br />precipitation in mountainous areas. Continuing scientific investigation <br />and project field experience have laid some of these questions to rest and <br />have categorized the degree of risk that may still be at issue with the <br />remaining concerns. Ongoing research results have provided the basis for <br />understanding precipitation-related risks. <br /> <br />Common areas of concern in winter orographic snowfall enhancement include <br />excess snowpack accumulation, avalanches, flooding, and severe storms. <br />Studies of project basin hydrology and analyses of basin climatology <br />provide the scientific information required to develop a suspension <br />criteria system under which seeding operations will be discontinued if it <br />appears the physical or economic well-being of the area and its residents <br />are endangered by weather activity. Suspension criteria designed to <br />prevent harm to the project area as the result of excess snowpack accumu- <br />lation, avalanches, flooding, and enhanced severe storms were in effect <br />during the 5-year, 1970-75 period of the Colorado River Basin Pilot <br />Project. No unusual, abnormally hazardous, or other type of weather <br />condition outside normal wintertime variability was identified during <br />the Pilot Project that was attributed to seeding related increases in <br />snowfall. Additional information and continuing analysis resulting from <br />ongoing cloud seeding activities will diminish unknown areas and decrease <br />the risk related to wintertime cloud seeding. <br /> <br />G. Programmatic Alternatives <br /> <br />The environmental consequences of the programmatic alternatives are dis- <br />cussed in the Project Skywater Programmatic FES [4J in chapter 8. This <br />discussion is incorporated by reference into this environmental assessment. <br /> <br />35 <br /> <br />i <br /> <br /> <br />j <br />