Giving mother nature a boost

While it may not be nice to fool with Mother Nature, every once in a while she needs a little help. That's what a number of Valley agencies are thinking anyway, and plan to seed the clouds in hopes of producing more snowfall.

At the beginning of this year, the Big Bear Municipal Water District played host to Tom Henderson of Atmospherics, Inc., of Fresno. Henderson is the cloud seeding guru in Southern California, having been involved in weather modification almost since its inception. From that February meeting, the idea of cloud seeding took on a life of its own, with Valley officials traveling to the Atmospherics, Inc., headquarters and to the Southern California Edison offices in San Dimas.

After each visit, returning to a parched Valley with no hope of precipitation in sight, the officials were even more convinced cloud seeding was an option worth exploring. An online Grizzly poll taken in the spring showed respondents agreed, with 71.6 saying cloud seeding was worth looking into. Sixteen percent said no, and 12.3 percent were undecided.

The MWD is leading the way toward bringing cloud seeding to the Valley, which could increase precipitation anywhere from 5 to 10 percent.

"We think this is a really good project," said Sheila Hamilton, general manager of the MWD during a presentation Aug. 30. Addressing the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency board, Hamilton said in researching Atmospherics, Inc., the MWD has received only positive feedback. The firm is only one of three recognized to do cloud seeding in the country, and the only one in California.

"At this stage, we have a comfort level with AI and that cloud seeding works," Hamilton said. "It's new to us, but it's not new. Countries all over the world are using it."

Cloud seeding is a simple scientific process. It's done either from the air with a plane flying above or through clouds or from the ground with a propane-operated generator. Silver iodide released into the clouds convert ice crystals in the clouds into moisture which falls as either rain or snow.

The MWD and its Valley partners are contracting with Atmospherics, Inc., for a three-year project to seed clouds from December through March. The goal is to increase the snowpack, which is beneficial to the lake, the forest, the wildlife, the groundwater supplies, recreation, the economy and more, officials say.

Thus far, the MWD has received partnership commitments from Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power, Snow Summit and Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency. Presentations are planned for the Big Bear Lake City Council and the Big Bear City Community Services District, with commitments expected from both agencies. The cost is $166,000 each year for the three-year period.

There has been some concern raised regarding the increased precipitation leading to flooding and problems for the burn areas west and south of Big Bear. Hamilton explained that there are several suspension criteria that will be set in place. In addition, there have never been any cases proven that show cloud seeding led to flooding disasters. Atmospherics, Inc., battled the negative accusations 40 years ago and prevailed, Hamilton said.

Finally, Hamilton said, most of the clouds that bring moisture to the Valley travel from west to east, so the seeded clouds would be traveling in the opposite direction of the burn areas.

"We just have to use logic and care on this," Hamilton said.

"Common sense is the key word here," said Liz Harris, BBARWA director and Big Bear Lake mayor.

Cloud seeding is a simple process that requires detailed scientific data for success. The company sets up a temporary site in the Valley to monitor clouds, their moisture content, wind and direction of travel and a number of other items. Only if all the elements for success are present does the plane take off and do the seeding. Cloud seeding does not make rain where moisture didn't exist, Hamilton stressed.

Henderson, owner of Atmospherics, Inc., said cloud seeding is not a cure for drought. "Unless you have clouds that are the right kinds of clouds, there's nothing you can do with this technology," he said. The precipitation increases are only above the amount of rain or snow that would have otherwise occurred, Henderson said.

Cloud seeding requires approval through the California Environmental Quality Act, and those documents are being prepared for circulation by mid September. Hamilton said hopes are for the final contract to be approved by November, so the project can start by Dec. 1.

Contact Judi Bowers at (909) 866-3456, ext. 137 or by e-mail at jbowers@bigbeargrizzly.net.