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DRI and water agencies urge continued funding for state cloud seeding program
Summary
Senate Bill 6 would provide continuity of state funding for the Desert Research Institute’s cloud seeding program to augment snowpack and water supplies in Nevada mountain basins.
Senate Bill 6 seeks state funding to continue Nevada’s cloud seeding program operated by the Desert Research Institute (DRI). Sen. Melanie Scheibel told the committee that the program, run intermittently since the 1970s and reauthorized by the 2023 Legislature (SB99), aims to increase snowfall and snowpack in key mountain basins that feed Nevada’s water supply.
DRI’s Tracy Bauer told the committee that winter 2023–24 operations produced an estimated 56,282 acre‑feet of additional snow‑water equivalent across multiple basins (Humboldt, Truckee, Spring Mountains) at an estimated incremental cost of about $10.60 per acre‑foot. DRI said continuous state funding supports operation and maintenance of state‑owned generators, improves efficiency over locally funded patchwork efforts, and helps preserve the equipment.
Support: Higher‑education stakeholders, water authorities and chambers spoke in favor of SB6. A caller from Nye County described local experience of added snow water and urged support. One caller opposed the bill citing concerns about unidentified chemicals and environmental and health impacts.
Next steps: Committee heard testimony; no committee vote on final passage was recorded during this hearing.
