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OJJ158 C. Quantification of Increase Precipitation and runoff increases as a result of cloud seeding will be quantified to establish the augmentation potential of a Basin-wide opera- tional program and its resulting benefits. This will help in deciding on the use and distribution of the additional water supplies. D. Assessment of Impacts Reclamation has prepared an environmental assessment covering CREST and determined that a Finding of No Significant Impact is appropriate. Numerous environmental studies have concluded that neither the additional snowfall nor the seeding agent adversely affect the ecology of areas as a result of limited duration cloud seeding programs like CREST. These studies also present a preliminary survey of effects that might occur if cloud seeding is applied operationally over very long periods of time. Consequently, monitoring of the environment during the CREST demonstra- tion program will be conducted to clarify the validity and nature of these suspected long-term effects. Extended area effects of cloud seeding have been a matter of controversy for more than 30 years. While there is no evidence to support the percep- tion that increasing snowpack in the mountains will cause a compensating decrease in precipitation in downwind areas, there is a need for defini- tive results that address the existence and nature of such effects. lhe limited evidence, in fact, suggests an accompanying downwind increase. Studies to resolve this issue will be an integral part of the demonstra- tion program. E. Minimization of Risks Operational procedures will be used that minimize the risks of cloud seeding while maximizing seeding opportunities and the resultant water production. Minimization of risks will be accomplished by applying operational suspension criteria. These criteria have been developed to define conditions under which seeding would be halted to safeguard against hazards such as avalanche and flooding potential. These will be refined and tested during the demonstration program. A public involvement program will precede and accompany the demonstration program to inform the people who will be affected by it and to establish communication mechanisms to facilitate prompt response to public interest. The ease with which seeding operations can be started and stopped to meet existing requirements reduces risk and promotes public acceptance. 16