US, states using cloud seeding to generate rain in west

Robert Besser
21 Mar 2023, 15:13 GMT+10

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has voted to accept a $2.4 million grant from the US Bureau of Reclamation to fund cloud seeding to irrigate the state's desert region located in other Western states.
The program will involve a weather modification method that uses airplanes and ground-based cannons to shoot silver iodide crystals into clouds.
As key reservoirs on the Colorado River have hit record low levels, cities and industries in the Western states have failed to reduce their water consumption.

DENVER, Colorado: The Southern Nevada Water Authority has voted to accept a $2.4 million grant from the US Bureau of Reclamation to fund cloud seeding to flood the Colorado River.

The program will involve a weather modification method that uses airplanes and ground-based cannons to shoot silver iodide crystals into clouds, which attract moisture to the particles that become snow and rain.

As key reservoirs on the Colorado River have hit record low levels, cities and industries in the Western states have failed to reduce their water consumption.

According to documents for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the federal funding will help upgrade manual generators to remotely operated models, and using planes to seed clouds in key parts of the Upper Colorado River Basin.

However, Rickert stressed that buying enough generators could be a challenge.

"There are not a lot of makers of cloud seeding generators. Not only do we have to make sure we can find that, but that they could make as many as we need," said Andrew Rickert, who coordinates Colorado's cloud seeding for the Colorado Water Conservation Board, as quoted by the Associated Press.

Colorado, Utah and Wyoming each spend from $1 to $1.5 million per year on cloud seeding.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Herald Globe.

More Information

56 ℉

Fair in Wenatchee

International

Section

Mummified nun draws hundreds of visitors to rural Missouri town

GOWER, Missouri: Hundreds of people flocked to the small town of Gower, Missouri, to see a mummified nun, Sister Wilhelmina ...

Japan: PM's son resigns for holding party at official residence

TOKYO, Japan: After coming under public criticism for using Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's residence for a private party, his ...

Remains identified of US pilot from Pennsylvania killed during WWII

WASHINGTON D.C.: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that 2nd Lt. James Litherland of South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, an Army ...

ACC sues Dr. Yunus, 12 others over embezzlement of $2,351,758

DHAKA, Bangladesh - The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 13 members of Grameen Telecom's board of directors, ...

Washington coordinates 14-country supply chain agreement

WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. Commerce Department has said that trade ministers from 14 countries have taken part in the US-led ...

Injuries at Churchill Downs sees 12 horses dead in month

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky: Two horses that succumbed to their injuries at Churchill Downs have become the 11th and 12th fatalities over ...

Sports

Section