Could a mountain-shadow effect be recreated artificially ?

Question

as a solution for some arid areas ?
1. Some coastal areas only get rain in the strip that is infront of a mountain chain , while the area in the shadow of the mountain does not get any rain . What if the existing mountain was levelled , then an artificial mound of debris as high as the original mountain is constructed , but this time it is some tens of kilometers MORE INLAND , could this ensure more rain to a larger coastal area ?
2 . If a LARGE body of water is created artificially BEHIND said mountains , could that lead to rainfall in the previously ARID area in the MOUNTAIN-SHADOW ?

Answer 1

1. Have you any idea what the volume of a mountain chain is? The largest dump truck in the world can only haul 267 yd^2. It is not likely that a fleet composed of all these trucks ever manufactured could remove a small mountain, let alone a chain, within our lifetimes.

2. This possibility is slightly more feasible, but rather than depending on evaporation and random rainfall, you should look at irrigation.The US Bureau of Reclamation has worked many projects of this sort, and has a wealth of information.