WSPC03487

• File Number: 8200.700
• Description: Colorado River Basin General Publications - Augmentation-Weather Modification
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1975
• Author: Unknown
• Title: Demonstrating Water Augmentation in Colorado River and Adjoining Basins by Weather Modification
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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interests. Although substanti.l augmentatIon can be effected,
annual amounts depend on storm occurrence. Determination of
quantities involves statistIcal rather than direct measurement
procedures.

Sect ion II

Interior'. Responsibility and Authority - Provide a
Pro~r.m of Comprehensive Development AND an Additional
and Adequate Water Supply in the Colorado River 8.s1n.

The need for substanti.l water augmentation Is well recognized in
the Colorado River 8a.!n Project Act of 1968 which had as 1t8 second
object lve the "provhion of additional and adequate supplies"
(Sec. 102(8)). The Secretary wa. authorized to develop a regional
water plan including water augmentatIon. The Statement of the Managers
on the Part of the House concerning Tit le 11 of S .1004 stated that "to
determine the most economical means of augmenting the water supply of
the Colorado River *** all possible means of water must be considered.
including w.ter conserv.tion and salvage, weather modification. desali-
nation and importation from aread of surplus."

The authority of the Secretary to actually augment water supplies within
the basin is clouded by the restriction. on importation. The Act assumes
and can be interpreted to authorize augmentation within the Basin, a.
in Sec. 306 to undertake water .alvage .nd ground water recovery, and
in Sec. 403(g) for funding to "provide for the augmentation of the
water supplies." Sec. 202 state. "the Secretary .hall determine and
proclaim that means are available .nd in operation which .ugment the
.....ter supply."

Cloud seeding research was ,~thor1zed by Congress in 1961 to "increase
r.infall by cloud seeding."- The Bureau of Reclamation was authorized
and funded in FY 1969 to "initi.te pilot weather modific.tion project.
in connection with the atmospheric water resource. research program. "1/
A 5-year pilot project is now being completed by the Bureau in the
Colorado River Basin as part of the inve.tigation. of ....e.tern ....ater
augmentation alternatives.

The Secretary of the Interior is the re.ponsible party in the various
agreements, guides, and directive. collectively known .s the "L.w of
the River." Therefore, the re.pon.ibilitie. and legislative mandate
and authorities apparently are .ufficient for the Secretary to under.
take augmentation of the Co10r.do River by ....e.ther modification.

The Weather Modification Reporting Act of 1971 provides that no person
engage in ....eather modification activities unless reports are ~ubmitted
to the Secret.ry of Commerce. Other than this reporting act there is

2

1/ Report No. 1788. House, 90th Congress. 2nd Session, pAge 30.
3/ Report No. 1097. Senate. 87th Congress. 1st Session, page 28.