Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program:
Wood River Basin
Boise River Basin
Upper Snake River Basin
Idaho Power Company Projects:
Payette River Basin
High Country Resource Conservation & Development Projects:
Upper Snake River Basin
State of Utah Projects:
Northern Utah Program
Figure 1. Cloud seeding operational areas in Idaho
Who Cloud Seeds in Idaho?
Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program
The Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program (Program) is the statewide program that facilitates cloud seeding in Idaho. The program is a unique partnership between the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB)-State of Idaho, Idaho Power Company (IPC), and local water users for the operation of cloud seeding projects in the Upper Snake, Boise, and Wood River basins. IPC operates an independent project in the Payette River basin, in coordination with the collaborative program.
IPC operates the program and the IWRB and local water users contribute towards program funding. The objective of the program is to augment snowpack, thereby enhancing runoff, in the seeded basins. The Program has cloud seeding operations in 3 basins currently, with 2 basins of interest. The West Central Mountain region includes the Boise River Basin, and Wood River Basin. The Eastern Mountain region includes the Upper Snake River Basin. The two basins of interest include the Bear River Basin and the Lemhi River Basin.
Figure 2. West central mountain region and equipment map (provided by IPC)
Figure 3. Eastern mountain region and equipment map (provided by IPC)
West Central Mountain Region:
- Boise River Basin
- Wood River Basin
- Payette River Basin
Eastern Mountain Region:
- Northern Upper Snake River Basin
- Southern Upper Snake River Basin
Idaho Power Company (IPC)
Idaho Power Company (IPC) is authorized by the IWRB to cloud seed in the Payette River Basin. This basin project is operated and funded by the IPC. Although the operations are 100% funded and operated by IPC, it is supported and is in coordination with the Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program. This area shares generators with other active basins.
High Country Resource Conservation & Development (HCRCD) Program
High Country Resource Conservation & Development (HCRCD) is authorized by the IWRB to cloud seed in the Upper Snake River Basin. HCRCD is operated by a private company called Let It Snow, which has been in operations for over 20 years. IPC provides forecasting support to the Upper Snakes HCRCD program. However, HCRCD operate their manual ground generator cloud seeding program independently. The HCRCD operates in coordination with the Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program.
State of Utah’s Northern Utah Program in Idaho
The Utah Division of Natural Resources (UDNR) is authorized by the IWRB to operate generators here in Idaho.
There are 3 authorized manual ground generators stationed in Idaho close to the border of Southern Idaho. These ground generators are stationed here to supplement UNDR’s Northern Utah cloud seeding program in Cache and Box Elder County.
Figure 4. UDNR cloud seeding ground generator locations (provided by UDNR)
Projects In Idaho
Wood River Basin
Figure 5. Wood River Basin cloud seeding operations map (provided by IPC)
The Wood River Basin project is a Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program project. The Wood River Basin is a part of the West Central Mountain cloud seeding region.
Figure 6. Wood River Basin project costs summary to date
Current Annual Basin: ~$769,000
Wood River Basin Infrastructure:
- 1 Shared Aircraft- Boise (B)
- 3 Shared Generators (3B)
- 7 Dedicated Generators
Boise River Basin
Figure 7. Boise River Basin cloud seeding operations map (provided by IPC)
The Boise River Basin project is a Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program project. The Boise River Basin is a part of the West Central Mountain cloud seeding region.
Figure 8. Boise River Basin project costs summary to date
Current Annual Basin: ~$1,034,000
Boise River Basin Infrastructure:
- 1 Shared Aircraft- Payette (P)
- 1 Shared Aircraft- Wood (W)
- 12 Shared Generators (9P/3W)
- 5 Dedicated Generators
Upper Snake River Basin
Figure 9. Upper Snake River Basin cloud seeding operations map (provided by IPC)
Northern Upper Snake River Basin
Figure 10. Northern Upper Snake River Basin cloud seeding operations map (provided by IPC)
Southern Upper Snake River Basin
Figure 11. Southern Upper Snake River Basin cloud seeding operations map (provided by IPC)
Figure 12. Upper Snake River Basin project costs summary to date
The Upper Snake River Basin project is a Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program project. The Upper Snake River Basin is a part of the Eastern Mountain cloud seeding region. HCRCD are authorized by the IWRB to independently operate a manual generator cloud seeding program, which is operated by Let It Snow.
Current Annual Costs: ~$1,816,000
Upper Snake River Infrastructure:
- 1 Dedicated Aircraft
- 25 Dedicated Remote Ground Generators
- 23 Dedicated Manual Ground Generators (HCRCD)
Payette River Basin
Figure 13. Payette River Basin cloud seeding operations map (provided by IPC)
The Payette River Basin project is operated and 100% funded by the IPC. The Payette River Basin is in the West Central Mountain cloud seeding region. The project is in coordination with the Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program. Although, it is privately funded.
Payette Rive Basin Infrastructure:
- 1 Shared Aircraft: Boise (B)
- 9 Shared Generators: 9 (B)
- 7 Dedicated Liquid Propane Generators
- 8 Dedicated Generators
Basins of Interest
The IWRB has investigated the potential for cloud seeding in additional river basins in Idaho. The two sites of interest include the Bear River Basin and the Lemhi River Basin. The Bear River Basin feasibility and design study was initiated in 2021. The study looked to determine if the Bear River Basin would be an area that had conditions that would allow for effective cloud seeding and determine if the basin would benefit from cloud seeding operations. The Lemhi River Basin feasibility and design study is currently underway. These sites are not being cloud seeded or apart of the Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program currently.
Figure 14. Map of the Bear River Basin (provided by the National Center for Atmospheric Research)
Bear River Basin
The Bear River Basin is an area of interest for potential cloud seeding operations. The Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program conducted a Bear River Basin feasibility and design study that was initiated in 2021. The study determined that the Bear River Basin was a viable area to cloud seeding. The Bear River Basin is not yet apart of the Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program and is not currently operational for cloud seeding.
Figure 15. Map of the Lemhi River Basin (provided by the National Center for Atmospheric Research)
Lemhi River Basin
The Lemhi River Basin is another area of interest for potential cloud seeding operations. The Collaborative Cloud Seeding Program is currently conducting a Lemhi River Basin feasibility and design study to determine if this basin is viable for cloud seeding operations. The Lemhi River Basin feasibility and design was imitated in 2022 and still actively investigating.
