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<br />, . <br /> <br />001078 <br /> <br />continues to increase, it is forecast that this region will fall short of <br />water within the next two decades. As Federal law requires diversions of <br />Colorado River water to central Arizona be reduced first in the future in a <br />time of shortage of Colorado River water, reducing the risks of such shortages <br />is of interest to this region. Therefore, all reasonable options for <br />enhancing the West's water supply should be seriously examined, including <br />weather modification, commonly called cloud seeding. <br /> <br />1.2 Cloud Seeding as a Water Augmentation Option <br /> <br />Cloud seeding has been applied for diverse purposes, including rainfall and <br />snowfall augmentation and hail suppression. In this report, the meaning of the <br />term "cloud seeding" is limited to attempts to increase snowfall and runoff <br />from mountain regions. <br /> <br />Cloud seeding cannot solve all the problems noted above. However, a well <br />tested and validated technology can offer an important, cost-effective tool <br />for water resources management. A 10 percent snowpack increase in unregulated <br />mountain watersheds in the Upper Colorado River Basin is estimated to increase <br />April through July total runoff in most watersheds at least 10 percent. <br />Runoff increases up to 20 percent could be expected from some drainages while <br />less than 10 percent runoff enhancement may result in watersheds with very <br />permeable soils. Cloud seeding is one of few nonstructural alternatives for <br />increasing water supplies. Cloud seeding has the potential to not only enhance <br />water quantity and increase hydroelectric energy production, but also improve <br />water quality. For example, studies have shown that additional runoff from <br />snowmelt in the Colorado River can significantly reduce salinity. <br /> <br />2 <br />