Idaho § 42-4301 - CLOUD SEEDING - legislative findings

§ 42-4301. CLOUD SEEDING - legislative findings

(1) The legislature finds that:

(a) Idaho’s economy and the welfare of its citizens depend upon a reliable and sustainable water supply. It is essential, therefore, that the state continues to identify, develop, and implement projects that augment and sustain the state’s water resources.

(b) The cloud seeding program developed and implemented by the Idaho water resource board, in cooperation with interested stakeholders, presents a unique and innovative opportunity to augment and sustain the water resources of the state.

(c) Public benefits of cloud seeding include drought mitigation, protection of water rights, protection of municipal and business activities dependent on water, water quality, recreation, and fish and wildlife.

(d) Data accumulated and analysis undertaken since the initiation of the cloud seeding program demonstrates that cloud seeding has resulted in an annual increase in the water supplies in the basins in which cloud seeding has been performed. However, additional research and analysis is necessary to determine the precise nature and extent of those increases. The legislature recommends that such research be continued as the cloud seeding program progresses and that annual reports on such research be provided to the legislature.

(2) The legislature recognizes that expansion of the cloud seeding program may benefit basins throughout the state that experience depleted or insufficient water supplies, and the legislature recommends that the water resource board complete an assessment of basins and work with affected stakeholders to implement the cloud seeding program in basins that would benefit from the program.

(3) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect any permitting or reporting requirements that may exist pursuant to federal law or regulation.

[42-4301, added 2021, ch. 256, sec. 1, p. 787; am. 2026, ch. 86, sec. 1, p. 453.]