WSP10213

• File Number: 8276.200
• Description: Paradox Valley Unit - Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 8/6/1975
• Title: Project Overview - Colorado River Basic Salinity Control Advisory Council
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Project Overview

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plants and regulating tanks would be
required to achieve the total lift
of about 3,000 feet between the well
field and the top of the divide,
with the first plant located adja-
cent to the treatment facilities.
In addition, two surge tanks would
be installed, one at the base of
the divide and one at the top. The
basic plan is shown in the map of
Paradox Valley and Radium Evapora-
tion Pond.

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Another alternative would be
to inject the brine away from ground
water movement into the salt dome at
mid-valley or into deep wells out-
side the area. Appropriate sites
for injection have not yet been
identified, and this way of dis-
posal may only be a short term
alternative to solar evaporation.

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Another measure being consid-
ered involves routing the Dolores
River across the valley in a lined
channel and allowing the groundwater
to surface and evaporate in the
natural flood plain. The required
facilities would be designed to

accommodate the high spring floods
of the river.

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Before these and other plans
can be adequately assessed, additional
research must be conducted to acquire
more information about the sources,
behavior, and chemical composition
of the ground water.

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While investigations are being
conducted, coordination will be
maintained with appropriate state
agencies and the Paradox Valley Unit
Advisory Team, a local interest group.
The selection of a final plan will
be based upon considerations of
effectiveness, economics, and environ-
mental impacts. A program schedule
for the Paradox Valley Unit is shown
in the Planning Activities Schedule.

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The estimated construction
period will run from fiscal
year 1977 to fiscal year 1980.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Bureau of Reclamation studies
have determined that a salinity
reduction of one mg/l at Imperial
Dam would annually produce $188,000
of direct benefits and $42,000
of indirect benefits for water
users in the Lower Colorado River
Basin. These benefits would
result from such factors as
increased crop yields, reduced
soil leaching requirements,
reduced management costs, lower
water treatment costs, less pipe
corrosion, and reduced use of
soap and detergents.

The control facilities in
Paradox Valley would remove up
to 188,000 tons of salt per year,
thereby decreasing the salinity
at Imperial Dam by about 16 mg/l
annually. This decrease in
salinity would result in direct
benefits of approximately
$3,008,000 per year and total
benefits of approximately
$3,680,000 per year.

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