WSP10582

• File Number: 8041
• Description: 208 Clean Water Grant
• State: CO
• Date: 3/31/1983
• Author: CWCB
• Title: Final Report on the 208 Clean Water Grant for the Water Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of Health
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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3644 ,
are Glenwood-Dotsero Sprlngs, Paradox Valley, Meeker Dome and
Sinbad valley. These saline springs are generally a result of
groundwater contacting and dissolving the Mancos shale. These
springs represent a large portion of the annual salt load to the
Colorado River.

~wood-Dotsero Sp~in'L~,_~i,.t:.

The Glenwood-Dotsero Springs Unit is located in west-central
Colorado in Gar.field, Mesa and Eagle counties. The Bureau of
Reclamation has identified,several springs in the Glenwood
Springs and Dotsero Springs area which contribute highly saline
water to the Colorado River. Reclamation estimates these springs
produce approximately 500,000 tons of salt and 25,000 acre-feet
of water annually.

Reclamation's recommended plan would consist of capturing
21.4 cfs of brine at Glenwood Springs and Dotsero Springs, piping
it to the Colorado-Utah border, and storing and evaporating it in
5,000 acres of contour ponds. This would result in an annual
stream depletion of about 15,500 acre-feet of water and a removal
of 314,000 tons of salt from the river. This would reduce the
salinity concentration at Imperial Dam by 31 milligrams per liter
(mg/l). An alternative plan currently under investigation by the
Bureau of Reclamation and a private company would use this saline
water to transport encapsulated coal to the west coast. The cost
of the recommended plan in January 19B1 dollars is estimated at
$232,000,000. The cost-effectiveness is estimated at about
$630,000 per mg/l.

IMPACTS

There are three major areas of impact associated with this
project. The environmental, economic and legal impacts are
significant and include the following items:

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