Proposal for Pilot Evaporation Pond

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Paradox Valley Unit Proposal for Evaporation Pond permissions would be obtained prior to on-site encapsulation. The encapsulated area would be graded to match surrounding landscape. If absolutely necessary, the salt could be transferred to a Reclamation landfill for encapsulation similarly. The need for long term monitoring of the encapsulation is not anticipated since leakage would be minimal and any impact from the leakage would be insignificant compared to the existing brine groundwater seepage into the river that occurs naturally. River erosion/encroachment would be unlikely as the encapsulation would be of significant distance away from the river and would be separated from the river by the large existing earthen dike. Post Pilot Test Site Management Upon conclusion of the pilot study which could last for several years,there could be generally one of two directions going forward. One direction would be the pilot study was successful and more evaporation ponds would be needed. In this case the site could continue the evaporation operation until the pond was filled up with salt. The completed site would be covered completely with an appropriate barrier material and topped with at least three feet of soil. Alternatively, the site could be closed as described in the paragraph before under the Migratory Bird Monitoring/Management Plan. The other direction would be no further application of the evaporation pond method due to finding of significant impact or not cost effective. The site would be closed as described under the Migratory Bird Monitoring/Management Plan. Conclusion The Paradox Valley is a very significant source of salt loading into the Colorado River. 115,000 tons of salt at this site are currently being disposed by the current deep well injection each year. This method has been relatively successful since full-scale operations were begun in 1996,but the increasing injection pressure requirements and corresponding seismic problems (including potential quitting of the well)warrant the exploration of an alternate disposal method that includes another injection well and evaporation ponds. Unacceptable levels of seismic movement at the Unit would most likely require the well to be abandoned. The negative impact of full salt loading into the Colorado River from the Paradox Valley in a well abandonment scenario would be widespread. The Paradox Valley Unit will be vital in helping the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program meet salinity goals of the future. The Unit benefits millions of people and saves great effort that would otherwise be required to remove the salt after being introduced into the river. Evaporation ponds have proven to be a highly successful and cost-effective salt removal and/or containment method in a number of notable large-scale projects including the Intrepid and Great Salt Lake Minerals Company ponds in Utah,the South Bay ponds in California,the Useless Loop and Onslow ponds in Western Australia, and the Dead Sea ponds in Israel and Jordan. The pilot evaporation pond will aid 12