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<br />. , <br /> <br />00251~ <br /> <br />California Department of Transportation - Data and Analysis in the <br />Planning for the Experimental Winter Weather Modification Program <br />in the Sierra Nevada <br /> <br />As a result of discussions between Project Skywater representatives <br />and officials of the Environmental Planning Branch, California <br />Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Caltrans agreed to under- <br />take an analysis of socio-environmental effects that might occur as <br />a result of incremental increases in high country snowpack, including <br />possible impacts upon state highway operations and maintenance. <br /> <br />Specific questions to be addressed by the Caltrans' study were: <br /> <br />What would be the effect 'if the accumulated snowpack were <br />increased by 10 to 15 percent per annum in normal or below <br />normal snowpack years? <br /> <br />How do the manpower and equipment requirements for snow <br />removal compare per storm and per year under historic <br />conditions? <br /> <br />What are the related costs for dry, average, and wet years? <br /> <br />The Caltrans' data covers an area generally above 1220 m (4000 ft) <br />elevation and includes an analysis of maintenance costs related to <br />storm severity. It also compares the fluctuating costs of <br />avalance control from season to season. Avalance control is required <br />only on Route 50 in El Dorado County between Echo Summit and Meyers <br />within the research area. <br /> <br />"Our data is not sufficiently detailed, nor does there seem to be <br />any substantive correlation between an incremental storm increase <br />and cost of highway avalanche control," James Gordon, Chief of the <br />Caltrans Environmental Planning Office, said in the report. <br /> <br />"In general, an analysis of the preceding data shows little direct <br />relationship in costs involved for small incremental changes in <br />storm size related to amount of precipitation. This is because of <br />the amount of equipment and manpower which is necessary to provide <br />a traversable roadway under frost conditions or to handle the <br />problems of freeze-thaw of snowbanks adjacent to the roadway causing <br />icy pavement conditions," Gordon said. <br /> <br />The report said that recorded data do not provide the refinement <br />necessary to analyze costs involved in snow removal for small <br />incremental increases of precipitation. Road closures are more <br />frequent due to blowing and drifting snow or severe icing conditions <br />than to the amourtt of snowfall. Historic costs for maintenance <br />by district were provided as well as data on road closures and <br />traffic volume. <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />41 <br /> <br /> <br />. ~- <br /> <br />{"JIJ/Ji.;.'~.'~" ..~ {.::, ~ <br /> <br />:.r~\ "r.'~'-,.~ .\-'>b.i~~.,~ . <br />