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 Illinois Intelligencer.

More Information

55 ℉

Fog in Springfield

North America

Section

After Canadian threats, Facebook, Instagram block some news

MENLO PARK, California: Facebook parent Meta has said that under a trial that could last through the end of June, ...

US: Kamala Harris meets World Bank chief Ajay Banga

Washington [US], June 7 (ANI): Vice President Kamala Harris called on World Bank President Ajay Banga at the White House. ...

AI ferry flight from Mumbai to depart at 1 pm for Russia where US-bound passengers stranded

New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): A ferry flight will depart from Mumbai at 1 pm on Wednesday for Russia's ...

Blinken Meets With Saudi Crown Prince

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin ...

Even as Militias Disbanded, Anti-Government Groups Surged in US

Anti-government extremist organizations in the U.S. surged last year, even as some militias disbanded and hate groups declined, according to ...

US to Cambodia: AUKUS Sub Deal Is Not Nuclear Proliferation

Washington - The United States, responding to remarks made by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier in the week, said ...

International

Section