The problem with flooding, as I’ve heard it said, is you can’t build a dike high enough for any possible flood. That’s why there’s the waffle plan. But how about controlling the weather so there’s less snow to melt and cause flooding?
I was perusing this blog and ran across and possible weather control scheme for the near future, which involves using solar-powered heat rays to steer hurricanes. No doubt it can be used to cause a lot of other meteorological phenomenon.
Apparently, we as a country are very much interested in messing around with the weather, but haven’t gotten really organized about it yet. China, on the other hand, is interested and organized. You kind of have to question the idea of making it sunny so some political big wig gets blue skies, but preventing natural disaster? Hmmm.
I grew up across the street from a UND geography prof.,Dando, whose job included advising the Chinese on cloud seeding in the Gobi Desert back in the 70s. You’re right they’ve been at since the 60s at least.
You have to wonder how wise this is overall. Who decides what to control and how? When it comes to large scale attempted weather control I imagine we’ll be hearing phrases like “we had good intentions”.
Why waste money investing in more weather manipulation techniques? We already do cloud seeding in North Dakota to reduce hail damage to crops.
The fiscally conservative solution to modify the flooding in the RR valley is simple. Use a chunk of the 100′s of millions this state is receiving in stimulus and use it to build diversion or field run off systems which can prolong the crest, reducing its peak.
Talk to any farmer out there in the valley… The potholes and water sheds have disappeared almost entirely for farmland.
But with the high cost of the land in the Valley, it would be difficult for the state to buy up land to endeavor on a project like this. Bottom line: Something has to be done.
That sounds pretty much like the waffle plan except for blaming the farmers for spring flooding. The drainage you mentioned, mostly affects the overland water movement during the summer and not much during the spring melt. But you are correct, something needs to be done.