Save Red Rock Canyon

Preserving Our Beautiful Canyon

  • About
    • 20-Year Highlights
    • Our Team
    • Water Stewards
    • Trail Stewards
    • Our Story
  • Current Efforts
    • Keep Red Rock Rural
    • Red Rock Legacy Trail
    • Make It Rain!
    • Recreational Safety
    • Save Lovell Canyon
  • Upcoming Events
    • 9/16 Diamond Kid Triathlon
  • News
    • What’s Happening at Save Red Rock
    • In the News
  • Take Action
    • Sign the Petition
    • Follow Us on Social Media
    • Sign Up For Updates
    • Volunteer
  • Support
    • Become a Member
    • Support Save Red Rock
    • Red Rock Birthday Gift
    • Partner With Save Red Rock
  • Contact
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Make it Rain! Cloud Seeding Program

Red Rock Canyon is suffering from extreme drought, and that’s why Save Red Rock is partnering with the scientists at DRI on a groundbreaking new cloud seeding program with potential to bring millions of gallons of much-needed rain and snowmelt to our thirsty canyon! You can donate to help us Make It Rain in Red Rock Canyon and make it snow on Mt Charleston.

Support Our Efforts!

Our Make it Rain campaign was a success! We raised enough money for 2 years of cloud seeding with our scientific partners at DRI. Any new donation will go towards the future for our conservation programs like Make It Rain, advocacy activity and more!

Donate Now
View Full Cloud Tracker

Updates

DRI and Save Red Rock Celebrate the Passage of SB99

June 26, 2023
New bill was signed into law by Governor Lombardo and will allocate $1.2M to assist in drought management.
Read More

Make it Rain Donor Update

December 1, 2022
YOU DID IT! YOU’RE MAKING IT RAIN IN RED ROCK! Dear Friends, Your donation to the Make It Rain cloud seeding campaign is already paying off! Since we met our fundraising goal in October, the scientists at DRI have been hard at work finding the best location to place our seeder, as well as monitoring…
Read More

Make it Rain Cloud Seeding Webinar

September 9, 2022
Learn more about our cloud seeding project with the scientists at DRI! This webinar covers: – How cloud seeding works – The proven environmental impact of seeding – What’s being done to advocate for government-supported drought solutions – How to contribute and help employ seeders by this winter!
Read More

SAVE RED ROCK PARTNERS WITH DRI TO “MAKE IT RAIN” IN RED ROCK CANYON 

September 1, 2022
Las Vegas, NV (Sept. 1, 2022) — Save Red Rock is partnering with DRI to fund a cloud seeding program which will augment precipitation in the Spring Mountains, helping to replenish the aquifers within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The partnership is working to alleviate some of the devastating effects of drought by stimulating additional snowfall in the winter and rainfall in the summer from naturally-occurring storm clouds…
Read More

Sign up for Updates

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Zip Code

In the News

Las Vegas Weekly: Desert Research Institute to RecEive $1.2 Million for Nevada Cloud Seeding

June 29, 2023

KSNV News 3: It won’t refill Lake Mead, but state lawmakers are betting on Nevada cloud seeding program

June 28, 2023

KVVU Fox 5 Las Vegas: Making it rain: New Nevada law allocates $1.2 million for cloud seeding

June 26, 2023

KTNV ABC 13: Cloud seeding success: Efforts to increase precipitation in Red Rock Canyon pay off

April 17, 2023

Desert Companion: Desert Drift

April 1, 2023

KVVU Fox 5 Las Vegas: Cloud seeding helps extract more water from rounds of winter storms in Southern Nevada

March 20, 2023

Associated Press: Feds spend $2.4 million on cloud seeding for Colorado River

March 17, 2023

London Review of Books: The Rainmakers of the American Southwest

February 24, 2023

Elko Daily Free Press: Elko County to give money for cloud seeding

January 9, 2023

KSNV News 3: Scientist: Cloud seeding at Red Rock Canyon successfully increasing rainfall

January 9, 2023

NEWSY: Cloud Seeding May Help Sustain Ecosystem in Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon

October 13, 2022

Casino.org: Las Vegas’ Bone-Dry Red Rock May Use Seeding Clouds as Water Source

September 22, 2022

Las Vegas Weekly: Save Red Rock Raises Money For a Cloud Seeding Project Amid the Prolonged Drought

September 22, 2022

Bollyinside: Group soliciting funds to seed clouds over Red Rock Canyon

September 14, 2022

WBRC: Group raising money for cloud seeding Red Rock Canyon

September 13, 2022
Rainbow Over Red Rock | Save Red Rock

Red Rock Canyon is suffering from extreme drought, and that’s why Save Red Rock is partnering with the scientists at DRI on a groundbreaking new cloud seeding program with potential to bring millions of gallons of much-needed rain and snowmelt to our thirsty canyon! You can donate to help us Make It Rain in Red Rock Canyon and make it snow on Mt Charleston.

Cloud seeding is used all over the world as a method for enhancing winter snowfall and increasing mountain snowpack, supplementing the natural water supply available to ecosystems of the surrounding area. DRI has been pioneering winter cloud seeding programs since the early 1960s. They now offer time-tested cloud seeding methods that are proven to enhance snowfall from winter clouds in six mountain ranges, including Lake Tahoe Basin (CA/NV), Spring Mountains (NV), Santa Rosa Mountains (NV), San Juan Mountains (CO), and in the Upper Colorado River Headwaters region (CO).

How it Works

Clouds are made up of tiny water droplets or ice crystals that form when water vapor in the atmosphere cools and condenses around a tiny particle of dust or salt floating in the atmosphere. Without those particles, known as ice nuclei, raindrops or snowflakes cannot form, and precipitation will not occur. Cloud seeding introduces tiny ice nuclei into subfreezing clouds. After cloud seeding, the newly formed snowflakes grow and fall to the surface of the earth. Ground-based generators are operated remotely by meteorologists. When storm systems move through the cloud seeding project area, a solution containing a small amount of silver iodide is activated from the ground-based generator. Upon reaching the cloud, the silver iodide acts as a condensation nuclei to aid in the formation of precipitation. Projects run during the winter season from November to May. 

Why Now? 

  • Reduced precipitation in Spring Mountains
  • Drought conditions in Nevada
  • Second driest year to date in over 100 years of observation

Measured Success

Operational cloud seeding projects have been the subject of bountiful research since the 1950s and 1960s. DRI’s team of meteorologists monitor the results of their cloud seeding operations through a network of precipitation stations, and measurements of trace silver iodide. The effectiveness of cloud seeding differs from project to project, but long-term cloud seeding projects over the mountains of Nevada and other parts of the world have been shown to increase the overall snowpack in targeted areas by 10% or more per year. DRI’s last project in Lee Canyon proved even more successful, generating 5,656 acre feet, or approximately 1.8 billion gallons. 

Cloud Seeding Equipment

Ground based generators are currently designed for winter seeding. The units contain a main solution tank which holds 72 gallons of seeding agent. Seeding agents are typically silver iodide, a non-toxic and naturally occurring compound, which creates the greatest yield of snowflakes in this temperature region. 

Water Producing Capacity

A previous generator in the area was shown to add 5,500+ acre feet of snow water equivalent (swe) = 1.7 billion gallons. Additional generators have the capability of adding additional 5,500+ acre/feet of snow water equivalent in excess of 1.7 billion gallons each. The full water output is dependent on the number of natural storms that develop during the winter season, and their ability to be seeded. The right cloud conditions are necessary in order to wring out the extra moisture. 

DRI Researcher works in the mountains with a winter cloud seed generator.
Donate Now

2022-2023 Cloud Seeder Area

The Blue shaded area is the cloud seeding target area and the red dot is the approximate generator site in Lovell Canyon, which is in Red Rock National Conservation Area.

Melt, runoff, and percolation from the Spring Mountains snowpack is the primary mechanism for groundwater recharge of the numerous springs and aquifers across the region. A secondary recharge can come from thunderstorms associated with the summer monsoon. 2018-2019 one generator cloud seeding program was conducted in the Spring Mountains, in a similar location.

  • 16 storms were seeded with 101 hours of generator operations
  • Cloud seeding was 22,400 acres
  • Cloud seeding produced 1 inch of additional snow every 3+ hours
  • The total Snow Water Equivalent increase for the winter was estimated at 5,656 acre-feet (or approx 1.7 billion gallons) of water. 

Thank You To Our Donors!

Generator Donors

Jeremy BurkhardtJeremy Burkhardt
Jeremy Burkhardt is Chairman of Origin Acoustics and former CEO, architect, and co-founder of SpeakerCraft, Inc., once the world’s largest manufacturer of architectural speakers and custom installation products. In addition to being a leader in the residential architectural custom electronics industry, Burkhardt is a Las Vegas resident and lover of the outdoors.
www.originacoustics.com

Seed Donors
  • Scott Cross
  • Greg Kidd
  • Cottonwood Springs Water Stewards
  • Pauline van Betten
Snowball Donors
  • Linn Billingsley
  • David Cotter
  • Michele Dubbert
  • Sarah McCrea-Dameron
  • Nikki Wall
Drizzle Donors
  • Serrin Anderson
  • Sheila Billingsley
  • Tonya Brock
  • Christine Bruegger
  • Debbie Chino
  • Ellen FISCHMAN
  • Heather Fisher
  • Rebecca Gates
  • Great Old Broads for Wilderness
  • Mary Hager
  • Kari Halkyard
  • Jacqueline Harris-Smith
  • Abraham Hartman
  • Katie Heckel
  • Carol Hunter
  • Katja Lin
  • Alicia Micco
  • Bruce Nielsen
  • Jean Nordahl
  • Jean Nordahl
  • Richard Rogers
  • Rhonda Schwartz
  • Charlie Shelton
  • Michelle St Angelo
Raindrop Donors
  • Madison Alexander
  • Barbara Bloch
  • Steve Clausse
  • Colleen Curran Communications
  • Ray Curry
  • Sterling Diaz
  • Michelle Fenstermaker
  • Scott Finley
  • Denise George
  • ANDREA GLENN
  • Christopher Gorney
  • Maria Gutierrez
  • Carron Haggerty
  • Lisa Harrison
  • John Inzanti
  • Linda James Smith
  • John Jonas
  • Eugene Lopez-Huerta
  • Alissa Malone
  • Jesica Mangun
  • Olga Mares
  • Michael Meoli
  • Beth Newitt
  • Tina Past
  • Lily Rothman
  • Tony Sender
  • Linda Shaffer
  • Minda Silvestre
  • John Smith
  • Conee Spano
  • Nicholas Strohecker
  • Mary Swackhamer
  • Steven Theodore
  • Alexander Villa

Save Red Rock logo

Become a Member

Save Red Rock is a non-profit 501c3 run purely on the caring generosity of people who love Red Rock. Consider supporting Save Red Rock by becoming a Save Red Rock Member today!

Join Now

Get the Latest Updates

Sign up for Save Red Rock email updates to receive the latest news and opportunities to make a difference in your inbox! You can unsubscribe at any time.

facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Save Red Rock
3 weeks ago
Save Red Rock

Great write up in the RJ about Diamond Kid this Saturday. Can't wait! ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Centennial Subaru sponsors Diamond Kid sports event

www.reviewjournal.com

Centennial Subaru is the corporate sponsor and exhibitor at this year’s Diamond Kid 12th annual Junior Triathlon and Kids Races, taking place Sept. 16 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Blue Diamond Po...
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 4
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 1

1 CommentComment on Facebook

So cool!!!! Best event ever!!!

@SaveRedRock
Twitter feed is not available at the moment.
srr red logo 300

PO Box 149
Blue Diamond, NV 89004
Tel (702) 518-1954

About

  • Our Story
  • Successes
  • Board & Staff
  • Financials
  • Contact

Media

  • Press Releases
  • Updates
  • In the News
  • Media Kit

Take Action

  • Sign Up For Updates
  • Follow Us on Social Media
  • Volunteer
  • Sign the Petition

Support

  • Donate
  • Become a Member
  • Red Rock Birthday Gift
  • Partner with Save Red Rock
© Copyright 2023 Save Red Rock Canyon CDC | Site Admin
Crafted by Anne M. Creative Co.