The Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee of the Utah State Legislature convened on February 6, 2025, to discuss critical funding initiatives aimed at enhancing water management and combating invasive species in the state.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on a proposed $2.5 million ongoing funding request for a drone-based cloud seeding project in the Bear River Basin. The funding is intended to cover both startup costs and ongoing operational expenses, including the deployment of teams to operate the drones and the purchase of necessary materials like silver iodide. Officials emphasized that the project is designed as a test case, with a three-year timeline to collect data and assess its effectiveness in increasing precipitation.

In addition to cloud seeding, the committee heard from Clean Wake LLC, a company dedicated to preventing the spread of quagga mussels in Utah's waterways. The company’s founder, Mr. Atwood, presented a funding request of $6 million, which includes $4 million for new dip tank installations and $2 million for ongoing staffing costs. The dip tanks are designed to decontaminate boats and prevent the invasive mussels from spreading to uninfested waters. Atwood highlighted the success of the dip tank system, which has significantly improved the efficiency of the decontamination process.

The committee also discussed collaborative efforts with the ski industry and other states to enhance water management strategies. Officials noted that any additional precipitation generated through cloud seeding would become public water, emphasizing the collaborative nature of water resource management in Utah.

Overall, the meeting underscored the state's commitment to innovative solutions for water management and invasive species control, with funding requests aimed at ensuring the sustainability of Utah's natural resources. The next steps will involve further evaluation of the proposed projects and their potential impacts on the state's water systems.