Idaho Power first contracted for cloud-seeding in the winter of 1996–97. Since 2003, it has operated its own cloud-seeding program.

Annual snowpack in the Payette River Basin increased by 5 percent to 15 percent, depending on the year, with an average increase of nearly 13 percent, Idaho Power analyses show.

“Idaho Power estimates cloud seeding in the Payette provides nearly 200,000 additional acre-feet of water for the Hells Canyon Complex each year. That amount of water can generate approximately 100,000 megawatt-hours, or enough to power roughly 7,900 homes.”

By introducing more ice nuclei into winter storms with water vapor and the right temperatures, those tiny silver iodide particles increase precipitation, said Bowlin.

“Idaho Power uses two methods to seed clouds: ground generators at high elevations, and airplanes that release special flares into storm clouds. We work closely with federal, state and local authorities to ensure our cloud-seeding operations comply with all relevant environmental and land-use guidelines,” he said.

Silver iodide has been used for winter cloud seeding in 11 of the 17 western states for decades, and no harm to the environment has been documented.