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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 3646 area is continuing. It appears that groundwater levels and the flows from the saline seeps are decreasing. A total cost has not been developed for this unit since it is currently in the investigation phase. This unit is expected to reduce the salinity concentration at Imperial Dam by 6 mg/l. IMPACTS ----"--- If the well plugging resolves the seepage problem, there would not be any significant impact within the State of Colorado. Paradox Valley Unit The paradox Valley Unit is located on the Dolores River about 2 miles downstream of Bedrock. Paradox Valley is a collapsed salt anticline which contains highly saline groundwater. The groundwater surfaces in the bottom of the Dolores River while it flows through this valley. Studies from the Bureau of Reclamation indicate that about 205,000 tons of salt are contributed to the Dolores River annually. Reclamation originally recommended a plan that had a series of wells along the river which would pump the brine to an evaporation reservoir. This pumping (5 cfs) would lower the groundwater in the area and would also lower the fresh and saline water interface. However, during a verification program, it was determined that possibly only 2 cfs would be required to lower the interface. At this flow rate, alternative disposal methods become more attractive than an evaporation reservoir. Deep well injection of this brine is currently under investigation and appears to be the most feasible solution. If 2 cfs is the final flowrate of the unit, the project would annually remove approximately 180,000 tons of salt and about 1500 acre-feet of water from the Dolores River. This unit would reduce the -12-