Cloud seeding can increase the water supply in places that don’t have enough. The technology behind it goes back to the 1950s, and scientists are studying how effective it can be in the 21st century. Jonathan Jennings is a meteorologist who directs the cloud seeding program for the state of Utah. Before that, he worked on cloud seeding in Texas for more than a decade. He recently finished a term as president of the Weather Modification Association. Jennings spoke with KUNC about the facts surrounding cloud seeding in the Western U.S. This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity. … Jonathan Jennings: Right now, the operational programs in the Mountain West, specifically in the Colorado River Basin, are all winter projects. The goal is to enhance precipitation on the snowpack, which leads to better runoff into the Colorado River. We have active programs in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

Other cloud seeding news:

• The Washington Post: He seeded clouds over Texas. Then came the conspiracy theories.
• The Center Square: Meteorologists debunk ‘cloud seeding conspiracy theorists’
• NBC News: EPA head promises ‘total transparency’ on geoengineering and contrails as weather conspiracy theories swirl
• The New York Times: No, chemtrails are not real or causing floods, E.P.A. says
• E&E News by Politico: Zeldin confronts furor over weather tampering, vows ‘total transparency’