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<br />~ <br /> <br />~ The four salinity sources whose control Title II provides for are <br />to the Paradox Valley Unit, the Grand Valley Unit, the Crystal Geyser <br />~ Unit, and the Las Vegas Wash Unit. <br />00 <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />.', <br /> <br />The Paradox Valley Unit is located on the Dolores River in south- <br />western Colorado near Cortez. It is estimated to contribute about <br />200,000 tons of salt per year to the Dolores River. The control <br />facilities will include wells, pumps, solar evaporation ponds and <br />other associated works. The concept is to lower the fresh water/brine <br />interface by pumping wells along the Dolores River to prevent the <br />brine from entering the river. The estimated pump discharge of <br />5-8 cfs would be transmitted via pipeline to an evaporation and salt <br />storage reservoir (Radium reservoir) on the West Fork of Dry Creek <br />about 20 miles to the southeast. The control system is expected to <br />reduce the salinity contribution by 180,000 tons per year. Advance <br />planning activities are scheduled to culminate in a Definite Plan <br />Report by the end of Fiscal Year 1976. <br /> <br />The data obtained in the December 1974 pump tests were analyzed. A <br />layout of piezometer wells and two additional pump test wells was <br />prepared. Simultaneous pumping tests of these two wells and the <br />existing test well are necessary to determine the number and capacity <br />of wells necessary to lower the saline water-fresh water interface. <br />Data collection from ground water wells and Dolores River continues. <br /> <br />Alternate plans to the plan described in the status report have been <br />studied. All the alternates except an alternate pipeline route to <br />the proposed evaporation reservoir cost more or had adverse environmental <br />effects or both when compared to the plan discussed in the status <br />report. The alternate pipeline route will be studied during the <br />advance planning. When advance planning funds become available, <br />specifications for foundation drilling of the Radium damsite and <br />construction of access roads to the piezometer well sites will be <br />advertised; a contract for EIS data for game animal population study <br />will be negotiated. When the access roads are nearing completion, <br />specifications for drilling piezometer wells and installing piezometers <br />and for drilling the two test wells and pump testing the three test <br />ewlls will be advertised. Concurrently with the Radium damsite founda- <br />tion drilling, project personnel will drill the evaporation reservoir <br />site, install weather stations to determine evaporation rates, continue <br />the collection of quantity and quality data from ground water wells and <br />from the Dolores River and begin preparation of a definite plan report. <br /> <br />The Grand Valley Unit of western Colorado consists of about 76,000 <br />irrigated acres. The salt contributed by the area is estimated at <br />about 600,000 tons annually. Planned control measures include irriga- <br />tion management services and irrigation systems improvement. <br /> <br />2 <br />