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Minutes of the Meeting April 6, 1981 Colorado River Augmentation Task Committee Pacific Southwest Inter-Agency Committee On April 6, 19$1, the Colorado River Augmentation Task Committee of the Pacific Southwest Inter-Agency Committee (PSIAC) held its initial meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. The meeting was convened under the direction of Vernon Valantine, Chairman, from California Colorado River Board. All committee members were present as follows: Pete Stender and Lee Silvey of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS); Olin Foehner and Bob McCullough of the Water and Power Resources Service (WPRS); Barry Saunders, Utah; Jack Stonehocker, Nevada; and as an observer, Carl Beard of USFS. . . The Chairman explained the origin and the objectives of the Task COllunittee, which was set up pursuant toa request by PSIAC. The objec- tive was st,ated as being to monitor progress on Colorado River augmenta- tion studies I)eing conducted by WPRS and USFS. The WPRS studies are called the. Colorado River Weather Modification Demonstration Program, and theUSFS studies are part of ongoing regional planning efforts and consist of water yield improvement studies. Data on the status of the p!'Ograms that is obtained would be passed on to PSIAC and the state members of PSIAC in order that they may decide to take furthe!' action to facilitate progress on the augmentation programs. Barry Saunders suggested that it would be helpful to the interests of the Colorado River Basin states if the other inter-state organizations that are currently active would be made aware of the status of these studies. He suggested that reports be made on the monitoring activities of the Task Committee to both PSIAC and to the Western States Water Council and the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum. In this manner, when the staffs of the Council and the Forum meet with Adminis- tration and Congressional leaders on other matters of concern, they can also pass on concerns regarding the augmentation programs. The Task Cortimitt,eo agreed that it should be brought before the parent committee for action. Colorado River Weather Modification Demonstration Program Olin Foehner reported on the activities of WPRS relating to this program. He summarized the hearing on March 25, held before the Subcommittee on Water and Power Resources of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. He stated that the Congressmen appeared, through their questions, to be supportive of cloud seeding and the big thrust was really directed towards how soon the program can get under- way. He reported that Commissioner Broadbent stated thatWPRS is now developing a Secretarial Issues Document that will soon be submitted to Secretary Watt to serve as a basis for fiscal year 19$3 budget requests. Foehner stated that there woUld be no chance of any change B-26.