State/Province Policy and Regulations
Cloud Seeding operations and their oversight differ state to state. Each state or province has its own statutes and administrative rules for governing weather modification activities, with minimal federal involvement. The role of each state is largely driven by statute, and varies in scope, from minimal involvement to active program management.
This section provides links to each state’s/province’s relevant statutory code and/or administrative code, where available. Additionally, a summary of cloud seeding operational program(s) or status of program(s) no longer operational by state/province are provided.
Alberta
Province Role: The provincial government administers cloud seeding operations in Canada. The Alberta Hail Suppression Project is funded by a consortium of insurance companies called the Alberta Severe Weather Mangement Society (ASWMS).
Arizona
State Role: The State of Arizona does not operate a weather modification program. Within Arizona, the Central Arizona Project funds weather modification activities in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
- Arizona Statutory Code: Revised Statues Title 45, Chapter 9, Sections 45-1601 to 45-1607 – Weather Control and Cloud Modification
- 45-1601 License Required
- 45-1602 Application for License
- 45-1603 Application Fee; Statement Accompanying Application
- 45-1604 reports Required from Licensees; Failure to File; Revocation of License
- 45-1605 Equipment License; Fee; Application; Reports Required; Revocation of License
- 45-1606 Exception
- 45-1607 Violations; Classification
- Administrative Code: Arizona Administrative Code Title 12, Chapter 15, Section 104, Part A.9.a (A.A.C. R12-15-104(A)(9)(a))
- This code covers licensing fees for “weather control or cloud modification.”
California
State Role The State of California does not currently operate a weather modification program. Within California, several water and power utilities operate cloud seeding programs, and the Six Agency Committee–a coalition of water agencies that use Colorado River water–funds weather modification activities in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
- Statutory code: California Water Code, Division 1, Chapter 4, Sections 400 to 420
- This code codifies the California Weather Resources Management Act of 1984 (WRMA).
- Administrative code: California does not have a unified administrative code for weather modification. The 1984 WRMA repealed a previous state licensing and permit system, though it retained requirements to notify the California Department of Water resources before commencing weather modification operations and to submit post-operations reports.
Colorado
State Role: The State of Colorado operates a Weather Modification Program, administered by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The program coordinates weather modification activities, issues permits, and provides funding through its Weather Modification Grant Program.
- Statutory code: Colorado Revised Statutes Title 36, Article 20, Sections 36-20-101 to 36-20-127
- This code codifies the Weather Modification Act of 1972.
- Administrative rules & regulations: Colorado Department of Natural Resources: Colorado Administrative Rules for Weather Modification
Idaho
State Role: The State of Idaho operates a Cloud Seeding Program, administered by the Idaho Water Resource Board and supported by the Idaho Department of Water Resources.
- Statutory code: Idaho includes several sections of statutory code that address weather modification. These can be found on Idaho’s Cloud Seeding Program Administration web page under “Statutory Authority Timeline.”
- 22-4301 Idaho Weather Modification Districts – Establishment, Petition, Election
- 22-4302 Idaho Weather Modification Districts – Weather Modification Fund, Creation, Administration
- 42-605 (13) Idaho Distibution of Water Among Appropriators
- 42-1805 (10) Idaho Director of Department of Water Resources – Additional Duties
- 42-4301 Cloud Seeding
- 46-1015 Idaho State Disaster Preparedness Act
- Idaho House Bill 266 (HB266, 2021)
- Administrative code: Idaho does not have a unified administrative code for weather modification.
Nevada
State Role: Nevada’s weather modification activities are led by the Desert Research Institute (DRI). DRI operates Cloud Seeding Projects and a Cloud Seeding Research Program which is administered by DRI’s Division of Atmospheric Sciences and funded in part by the Nevada state legislature. The DRI design, maintain, and operate cloud seeding projects for state, local, and federal partner agencies. DRI conducts cloud seeding research and operations in Nevada, California, and Colorado.
- Statutory code: Nevada State Code Chapter 544 – Modification of Weather
- This code is also called the Weather Modification Research Law.
- Administrative code: Idaho does not have a unified administrative code for weather modification.
New Mexico
State Role The State of New Mexico regulates the Weather Control and Weather Modification through the Interstate Stream Commission, who is responsible for the administration of applications for weather modification programs in the State of New Mexico.
- Statutory code: New Mexico State Code Chapter 75 – Miscellaneous Natural Resource Matters, Article 3 – Weather Control and Cloud Modification and House Bill 130 Cloud Seeding Weather Modification Pilot Project
- This code is also cited as the Weather Control Act (originally enacted in 1965 and amended several times since).
- Administrative code: New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 17 – Weather Modification, Part 2: Weather Control and Precipitation Enhancement
North Dakota
State Role: The State of North Dakota operates the North Dakota Cloud Modification Project, administered by the North Dakota Department of Water Resources.
Oklahoma
State Role: The State of Oklahoma does not currently operate a weather modification program. The Oklahoma Water Resource Board is responsible for administering licenses to conduct weather modification operations. There are currently no licenses to cloud seed in the State of Oklahoma.
- Administrative Code: Oklahoma Statutes Title 82, Section 1801.1 to 1801.4, which codifies the Oklahoma Weather Modification Act of 1999. Download Title 82 (PDF, 1.6 MB) or see https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-82/section-82-1801-1/.
- Administrative Code: Oklahoma Administrative Code Title 785, Chapter 15. Locate Title 785, Chapter 15, or search for “weather modification” in the Online Oklahoma Administrative Code. Oklahoma Administrative Code Title 785, Chapter 15 – Weather Modification
Texas
State Role: The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is responsible for administering cloud seeding projects through its Weather Modification Program. Cloud seeding projects are funded exclusively by underground water conservation districts and other local political subdivisions (such as county commissions and aquifer authorities).
- Statutory Code: Texas Law
- Title 9 – Weather and Climate, Chapter 301 – Weather Modification and Controls
- This codifies the Texas Weather Modification Act of 1967.
- Title 9 – Weather and Climate, Chapter 302 – Weather Modification and Control Grant Program
- This authorizes weather modification grants.
- Title 2 – General Provisions Relating to Licensing, Chapter 51 – Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
- Title 9 – Weather and Climate, Chapter 301 – Weather Modification and Controls
- Administrative Code: Texas Rules and Regulations
Utah
State Role: The State of Utah operates a Cloud Seeding Program, administered by the Utah Division of Water Resources.
Wyoming
State Role: The State of Wyoming operates the Wyoming Weather Modification Program, administered by the Wyoming Water Development Office.
- Statutory Code: Title 9, Chapter 1, Sections 9-1-905 to 9-1-909. Download all of Chapter 9 (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- In addition, non-codified water laws, including related to weather modification, can be found by searching for “weather modification” at Wyoming Statutes, Constitution, and Non-Codified Water Laws
- Statutory Code: Title 9, Chapter 1, Sections 9-1-905 to 9-1-909. Download all of Chapter 9 (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- In addition, non-codified water laws, including related to weather modification, can be found by searching for “weather modification” at Wyoming Statutes, Constitution, and Non-Codified Water Laws
Federal Policy and Regulations
State Role: The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for receiving Weather Modification Project Reports under the National Weather Modification Reporting Act of 1972, although it does not otherwise fund, participate in or oversee weather modification activities. Other U.S. federal agencies may fund or participate in research & development activities.
- Statutory code: 15 U.S.C. § 330 et seq., which codifies the Weather Modification Reporting Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92‑205) and the National Weather Modification Policy Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94–490, §§1–6(a)).
- Administrative code: 15 C.F.R. pt. 908
North American Weather Modification Council 