10/23/08 Cloud seeding

Definition; cloud seeding, also know as weather modification, is the deliberate treatment of certain clouds or cloud systems with the intent of affecting the precipitation process within those clouds. In eastern Idaho a cloud seeding committee headed by Fremont County Commissioner Paul Romrell got a big boost from Idaho Power Company which will supply three remote controlled cloud seeding generators, each worth about 50 thousand dollars. Romrell says they'll be added to their 25 manually operated units. ROMRELL "These remote control units can be located higher up in the mountains and in more isolated areas." The budget for last year's cloud seeding was 120 thousand but it's been upped to 150 thousand for this winter. ROMRELL "We have all the counties from Power County north signed up, cities that participate, many irrigators, district one water users are putting up a third of the funds." Romrell met with Idaho Power officials yesterday to talk about potential location sites for the remote units, how far apart they need to be spaced and how close they must be to the remote control operator. More on this tomorrow. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott