WSPC05170

• File Number: 8200.700
• Description: Colorado River Basin General Publications - Augmentation-Weather Modification
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 8/1/1977
• Author: NAIWMC
• Title: North American Interstate Weather Modification Council - Cooperative Planning Sessions - Colorado River Weather Modification Demonstration Project 1976-1977
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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reference to the OMB attitude we have been through some rough times on the

Colorado River. I can get legislation from Congress in spite of the budget

process if people would get behind a program and fight for it and get the

fourteen Senators behind it. It has been done before, it can be done again.

Keyes: How many are behind it now? Goslin: I am not sure. Kahan: The

involvement of the States has psychic value greater than fiscal value. The

budget process will see the State votes are not being usurped and that the

Federal Government is not going to do something for the States that they can

do for themselves. Valantine: If local organizations are to get involved in

public relations, that is as great a contribution as financial contributions.

Summers: With reference to Utah, I have talked to Director Lawrence about

this a lot, and Utah would be much more amenable to state participation if

the local districts were behind the program. Goslin: A seven state program

would be a new and different type of program. Valantine: Within California,

the on-going weather modification programs are being performed for benefit to

local areas. The proposed Colorado River Demonstration Project, however,

would be entered into to meet national needs, not local needs. The Congress

declared that meeting the Mexican Treaty delivery obligation is a national

obligation, upon augmentation of the River, and the Demonstration Project is

apparently a necessary part of the work needed to firm up weather modification

as an acceptable augmentation project. Accordingly, the United States should

pay for the Demonstration Project. Kahan: The Mexican treaty has not been,

in our minds, the total justification thrust. We chose the Colorado River as

technically the best place to make a demonstration, and based on a desire to

scientifically show an important augmentation of water resources for the

whole nation. Valantine: We have not looked at it from that point of view.

\ole see its justification as in satisfying the requirements of the 1968 act.

We think you should call on other aspects of the Bureau for compliance to

the 1968 act. Kahan: The Sierra Pilot Project started with an expression of

need by California to stop a water quality problem in the delta area. Chances

of the Colorado River Project being funded will be better if the budget pro-

ceSS can see that the States want it. Valantine: Public Law 93-320 requires

the Government to replace the brines discharged from the Yuma desalting plant.

The cost of the replacement water will be expensive, and the water to be pro-

duced by the Demonstration Project may enable the Government to meet the P.L.

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