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Tom Swafford and Bryan Loss from the Desert Research Institute took down elements from a cloud seeding generator on Aug. 7 at Alpine Meadows.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — A program to cultivate more precipitation locally from incoming winter storms is still looking for almost $45,000 to fund operations into the next year.
Last month, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority voted to use $165,151 from the Truckee River Fund to support the Desert Research Institute to continue the cloud seeding program for the Truckee River Basin. The Truckee River Fund is supported by rate payers.
That leaves $44,921 still needed to support the program for the Sierra this winter. The Western Regional Water Commission will discuss funding the program at its Nov. 13 meeting.
Originally, the program was to be dismantled because DRI had to cut more than $1 million in programs due to Nevada budget cuts. The total cost of the cloud seeding program for the entire state was $590,000 last year.
However, Washoe County Commissioner John Breternitz stepped in to help the program find funding.
“I think that everyone in Northern Nevada ought to be concerned about water and drought,” Breternitz said. “Water is such a precious resource; we have to do everything we can to stack the deck in our favor.”
While the $165,000 is not a final solution, TMWA Project Manager Ron Penrose said the organization is working on finding a permanent funding solution for Northern Nevada.
“TMWA is encouraging other users of the Truckee Water System to get on board for the continuous funding of DRI in this effort,” Penrose said.
According to DRI research, the program produces about 65,000 acre-feet of extra water per year. An acre-foot is enough water to cover an acre that is a foot deep.
In the Truckee River Basin, a DRI study found that cloud seeding boosted precipitation by about 18,000 acre-feet a year on average in the past 10 years.
In mid-October, Southern Nevada Water Authority board members approved funding to continue the program in northeastern Nevada.
Board members in Las Vegas approved $311,000 for cloud seeding this winter, giving SNWA General Manager Pat Mulroy the option to extend funding for two more years at slightly lower levels.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Last month, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority voted to use $165,151 from the Truckee River Fund to support the Desert Research Institute to continue the cloud seeding program for the Truckee River Basin. The Truckee River Fund is supported by rate payers.
That leaves $44,921 still needed to support the program for the Sierra this winter. The Western Regional Water Commission will discuss funding the program at its Nov. 13 meeting.
Originally, the program was to be dismantled because DRI had to cut more than $1 million in programs due to Nevada budget cuts. The total cost of the cloud seeding program for the entire state was $590,000 last year.
However, Washoe County Commissioner John Breternitz stepped in to help the program find funding.
“I think that everyone in Northern Nevada ought to be concerned about water and drought,” Breternitz said. “Water is such a precious resource; we have to do everything we can to stack the deck in our favor.”
While the $165,000 is not a final solution, TMWA Project Manager Ron Penrose said the organization is working on finding a permanent funding solution for Northern Nevada.
“TMWA is encouraging other users of the Truckee Water System to get on board for the continuous funding of DRI in this effort,” Penrose said.
According to DRI research, the program produces about 65,000 acre-feet of extra water per year. An acre-foot is enough water to cover an acre that is a foot deep.
In the Truckee River Basin, a DRI study found that cloud seeding boosted precipitation by about 18,000 acre-feet a year on average in the past 10 years.
In mid-October, Southern Nevada Water Authority board members approved funding to continue the program in northeastern Nevada.
Board members in Las Vegas approved $311,000 for cloud seeding this winter, giving SNWA General Manager Pat Mulroy the option to extend funding for two more years at slightly lower levels.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
