Cloud Seeding - Combating droughts

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Story Published: Nov 24, 2009 at 4:24 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 24, 2009 at 6:10 PM MST

By Steven Pope

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EASTERN IDAHO - Because of cloud seeding, the snowpacks at the Palisades Dam as well as the Henry's Fork Reservoir have received as much as 7-percent in additional precipitation last year.

"Everyone benefits from water," said St. Anthony Cloud Seeding Chairman Paul Romrell.

And although this summer was rather rainy, we just came out of a drought.

"What is the impact of cloud seeding?" I inquired.

"It's been a guess over the years, until we started this recent program," answered Romrell.

"What is cloud seeding?" I asked.

"These generators are fired by propane, and silver iodine crystals are introduced into to the heat. The heat takes the crystals up into the clouds, which causes the moisture in those clouds to precipitate into snow flakes and come back to the earth in the form of snow,"explained Romrell.

Last year cloud seeding in the area increased the snowpacks by as much as 7-percent. And that's good news for farmers.

"The irrigaters have especially participated," said Romrell.

"If we increase water here, does it take it away from somewhere else in the world?" I asked.

"(The) argument is that it doesn't take away from other areas," said Romrell.

That's because of induced chemical reactions. Although there are still pending lawsuits from Wyoming that Idaho is stealing their water.

Rain making has been around since 1915, or a lot longer if you believe in rain dancing.

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