From Deseret News archives:
Utah water year above average
And cloud-seeding efforts to get under way on Nov. 15
The 2006 water year ended midnight Saturday, when October began. By Monday, federal experts were able to calculate that the year's precipitation across Utah had totaled 103 percent of the 30-year average. While slightly better than typical, that wasn't as good as the previous year's precipitation.
"2005 was a little better," said Ray Wilson, hydrologist with the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Salt Lake City. That year, he said, "we ended up with 125 percent."
The '05 water year marked the end of a six-year drought, and this immediately past water year confirmed that dry weather was over for most of the state. That was true "especially in the north," Wilson added.
"Down south ... most of the basins were a bit below average." But they did not drop to the parched conditions of recent years.
2006 water year precipitation ranged from 115 percent of normal on the Weber River drainage, to a low of 84 percent in southeastern Utah, he said.
Projects in central and southern Utah will begin Nov. 15 and others in the state around Dec. 1, said Don A. Griffith, the company's president. Such projects have been going on in parts of Utah since 1974, he added.
A legal advertisement listed potential customers for the project, which is licensed by the Utah Division of Water Resources. They include several counties, water conservancy districts and ski resorts.
Griffith said the state may pay around 50 percent this year. He preferred not to discuss dollar amounts, however.
Storm systems often don't produce much precipitation, he added. Winter clouds may lack enough freezing nucleoli, which are usually composed of dust particles.
When clouds blow across mountaintops, ice accumulates around the particles. As these become heavier they fall out as snow.
Some sort of impurity, such as a bit of dust in the air, is needed to serve as a nucleus where the ice can accumulate. Or snow may fall from higher in a cloud, providing the nucleus. Cloud seeding, also called weather modification, releases a fog of extremely fine silver iodide crystals, around which ice can collect.
Recent comments
Thats good we got extra rain this year. I hope we get more next year....
cameron | Feb. 5, 2008 at 3:13 p.m.
- Festival of Trees includes roadster 2:14 a.m.
- Getting serious about seat belts 1:15 a.m.
- Witness describes '99 killing 1:15 a.m.
- Police increase presence at Skyline 1:14 a.m.
- Cougars cruise past Southern 1:03 a.m.
- Utes fall to Seattle U. at home 1:01 a.m.
- Utah celebrates Real Salt Lake Day 12:59 a.m.
- Y. focused on 10-win season 12:54 a.m.
- Thunder rolls by Jazz 12:49 a.m.
- Sloan remembers Abe Pollin 12:47 a.m.
- Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- KSL: Prostitution in Utah County
- Best prep football games of 2009
- Man trapped in own body for 23 yrs
- Kirilenko climbing blocks list
- Witness describes '99 killing
- Boys basketball rankings
- 'Dancing' will fill out finale
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
232 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
224 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
189 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
137 - BYU records with win
133 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
122 - Hall, Johnson matchup key
102 - 4A: Timpview wins 4th in 4 years
93 - Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
90
Maya was wronged. The trophy was stolen. The judges had to give him a 30 so...
Go Coug's I'll be there at LES and I expect a great finsh from Max Pitta and Co.
At least he won't be a stupid Junior. Has anyone played worse in the rivalry...
I was hoping they would win, but the were up against a lot of great talent....
I agree completely with your comments about Jay Leno. He goes way to far and...
I, too, think Mr. Gale does a great job with his articles. His...
We should drill more and lower the price globally for oil. Fine build nuclear...
No I don't own a poster of shirtless Jacob - but there is a huge difference...
Gary, What nonsense! Specify the emails that "prove" deception. You...
if you guys don't think soccer is a sport? then what do you consider a sport?...



