Show a As we r passed t Reservoir just north of Vernal and saw how empty it is and then went on to Flaming Gorge Reservoir and saw the waterline over 50 feet above the present water level we visually realized what a drag-down drag the past drought season has been on the areas With November half gone all this nice warm weather and sunshine is beginning to make makelL us lL a little nervous What will next summer bring if our traditional winter storms dont don't soon appear There is still time to get plenty of snow to recharge our watersheds and fill our reservoirs but those winter snow storms are sure taking their time lime getting here If IC the higher elevations dont don't get lots more snow before Thanksgiving the Utah ski industry will suffer a second year of financial setback Another record below normal moisture content winter could have devastating effects on our already dry conditions So as the winter season approaches lets let's all hope we get some good winter storms that will lay down some really deep snow in inthe inthe inthe the high mountain spring runoff areas The state of Utah has significantly increased its cloud seeding projects for the coming year The budget is almost twice that spent during the past year In the Uintah Basin has been approved approved approved ap ap- ap- ap proved for cloud seeding techniques This will be the first full winter season of the Uintah Duchesne and Daggett county project We have been told that most of the cloud seeding in our area has been done by ground unit generators spraying silver iodide into the clouds Officials say cloud seeding has many technical problems There e is always of I finding hiding the right kind of clouds that will release their moisture by hy the iodide treatment Then there is always the fear that the cloud doud milking might go too far farand farand farand and cause some damage such as flooding Hooding or too much snow causing the possibility of law lawsuits lawsuits suits for damages Then there is the problem of taking moisture that Ihal should naturally have dropped on some other area that also might be experiencing a drought If cloud seeding can increase the overall total moisture fall it will greatly help arid areas but if it takes moisture out of the clouds l before it naturally deposits it in other arid areas conflicts might arise like who has the lil title e to water stored in the sky and how do you file claim on t the e moisture in passing clouds clouds' Anyway we hope this winter has lots and lots of snow in store for the Uintah Basin And speaking of reservoirs it itis itis itis is great that the Red fled Fleet Reservoir in the Jensen Unit of the Central Utah Project is as asfar asfar asfar far along as it is This unit willbe will willbe be le an economic plus for the area But now support is needed to insure that the White River Reservoir near Bonanza and the Uintah Upalco and Ute Indian Units of the Central Utah l Project are pushed on to con con- With the future water needs of the Basin Hasin area and its arid climatic conditions all available reclamation water storage sources must be promoted The longer these projects are delayed the more they will cost until the need is so critical that they must be built at any cost If only it would rain or snow just when it is needed and in just the right amount the water problems of the west would be solved But then again who would decide just when the moisture was needed and how much It looks like Mother 1 Nature holds the trumps after all ull Thanksgiving is only a week away and here we are corn com about the weather How flaw ungrateful We have so many things to be thankful for forin forin forin in the Uintah Basin Hasin Its It's a great dace place to live Lets Let's not forget to pause and express our gratitude to 10 Him for the blessings blessing of life lICe next ext Thursday |