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<br />001993
<br />
<br />Pitt et al, August 2001. Replacing the Bypass Flow On The Colorado River
<br />
<br />Recent volatility in the power market suggests that BaR's cost estimate for YDP operation is
<br />low.47 The YDP requires approximately 170 million kWh per year of electrical energy to
<br />operate at full capacity.48 Approximate cost on the "spot market" for this amount of power at
<br />present rates (August, 2001) would be $8 million per year.49 Because BOR is authorized to
<br />operate the YDP with power from the Navajo Generating Station,SO tpday's higher electricity
<br />rates may not be reflected directly in the cost to operate the YDP. However, operation of the
<br />YDP would consume a portion of Navajo Generating Station's energy production c~acity and
<br />thus, reduce the amount of power that would otherwise be available to other users. If BOR
<br />does not assume the increaSed power costs, someone else will. Incorporating present day power
<br />rates. would bring the total cost of water treate4 at the YDP to over $370 per acre-foot,
<br />
<br />, ,
<br />At a cost of $370 per acre-foot to desalt irrigation water, the YDP is not a cost-effective salinity
<br />control measure by any standard. If BOR is to comply with 1984 and 1995 amendments to the
<br />CRBSCA, then operation of the YDP as a potential alternative must be eliminated. AdditionallI'
<br />with annual costs of approximately $2.2 million to maintain on "ready reserve" _ status. 2
<br />permanent decomnrissioning of the plant should be strongly considered. Decommissioning the
<br />YDP would cut the project's future losses and may allow other, more cost-effective, salinity
<br />control measures to be implemented.
<br />
<br />Environmental Impacts ofYDP Operation
<br />Were the.YDP to function at full capacity treating WMIDD dnlinwater, the Cienega de Santa
<br />Clara would-be destroyed due -to the reduced volume and increased salinity of the bypass flow in
<br />the MODE. At full operating capacity, the YDP is designed to process 97,300 acre-feet of
<br />Wellton-Mohawk drainwater (2,900 ppm), producing 68,500 acre-feet of plant product water
<br />(295 ppm) 'and 28,800 acre':'feet of reject water (9,400 ppm). Return flow to the Colorado River
<br />is estimated to b~ 78,600 acre-feet of blended water (68,500 acre-feet of plant product water
<br />mixed with 10,100 acre-feet/of Wellton-Mohawk drainwater).S3 YDP reject water would be
<br />disposed into the MODE, and the salinity of water flowing to the Cienega de Santa Clara would
<br />increase more than threefold, compounded by an approximate 70% decrease in flows.
<br />
<br />47 BOR estimates $3.8 million for power of the $21.1 million anImal operating cost.
<br />48 U.S. Bureau of Rec1amation (1990). "Yuma Desalting Plant Power Alternatives" 4/19/90 memo on file with
<br />author.
<br />49 Power costs are estimated using Salt River Project (Operating and Marketing Agent for Navajo Generating
<br />Station) Standard Price Plan for Primary Large General Service (E-63), made effective on May 15,2000 and
<br />Western Area Power Administration wheeling charges for Navajo Station and Central Arizona Project.
<br />50 Pub. L. 98-381, title I, Sec. 107, Aug. 17, 1984,98 Stat. 1339, " '
<br />51 Through participation in the construction of the Navajo Generating Station, the Bureau ofRec1amation has a
<br />24.3% (546,750 kWh) annual share of energy produced at the plant. Bureau of Rec1amation,'s power share that is
<br />not used by Central Arizona ,Project (CAP) or Yuma Desalting Plant (YDP) is sold to other participants in the
<br />Station or to Southern California Edison through the Navajo Power Marketing Plan adopted on December 19~7.
<br />Further explanation can be found online at: <http://dataweb.usbr.govlhtmllcrbnca9.htm1> and
<br /><htto://www.eoa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACf/2oo0IDecemberlDay-11li31442.htm>.
<br />52 BOR has used figures ranging from $1.5-2.3 million annually to keep the YDP in ready,reserve status, with the
<br />difference of $800,000 for equipment costs. John Redlinger, Deputy Area Manager, Boulder Canyon Operations
<br />Office, Bureau ofRec1amation, personal communication 8/15/01. Others have reported that keeping the YDP in ,
<br />ready reserve status costs BOR up to $6.8 million annually. See Pontius, supra note 46.
<br />53 See Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act,-Yuma Desalting Complex Unit, Engineering Data website:
<br /><http://dataweb.usbr.govlhtm1/1cydsengdata.htm1> .
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