WSP00596

• File Number: 8276.200
• Description: Paradox Valley Unit - Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 7/7/1986
• Title: Finding of No Significant Impact For Deep-Well Injection Testing Program
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

0lAPTER III

AFFOCTED ENVIROl'MENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEl';lUENCFS

Introduction

The Paradox valley Unit area consists of Paradox Valley on the 1TI3in stem of
the D:Jlores River in Montrose County in southwestern Colorado. The Dolores
River is a tributary to the Colorado River.

Paradox Valley is 3 to 5 miles wide and 24 miles long on a
northwest-southeast axis. The valley floor is relatively flat, enclosed by
steep, scmet:iIres nearly vertical, walls of sandstone and shale. Elevations
vary fran under 5,000 feet along the river in the valley to about 7,000 feet on
the divide between the valley and Dry Creek Basin.

The valley has a distinctive scenic quality. Contrasting with the reddish
hues of the rugged sandstone walls are the green hues of riparian growth along
the river and West Paradox Creek, irrigated land in the western part of the
valley, and juniper stands on scme of the valley's side slopes. The La Sal
Mountains, located in the Manti-La Sal National Forest, border Paradox Valley on
the northwest and rise to an elevation of about 12,000 feet. These mountains,
forested on the lower slopes and often snow-capped, form a striking background
to the valley.

The only carmunities in the valley are the very small farming towns of
Paradox and Bedrock. Other carmunities in the vicinity are Nucla, Uravan, and
Naturita, all located on or near the San Miguel River to the east of the valley.
The nearest cannercial centers are Moab, Utaht 60 miles to the northwest of
Bedrock; Montrose, 110 miles to the northeast; Grand Junction, 110 miles to the
north; and Cortez, 125 miles to the south.

Although relatively isolated, the unit area is served by a network of
Federal and State highways and county and local roads. Colorado State
Highway 90; Utah State Highway 46; U.S. Highways 191, 6, and 50; and Interstates
15 and 70 provide access to Moab and to Salt Lake City. Colorado State Highways
90, 141, 145, and 62; U.S. Highways 550 and 50, and Interstate 70 provide access
to Montrose, Grand Junction, and D8nver (about 260 miles east of Grand
Junction) .

The unit area is characteristic of the semiarid southwestern united States,
with low precipitation and humidity, abundant sunshine, high evaporation rates,
and wide ranges between daily high and low temperatures. The prevailing winds
are fran the southwest and are fairly strong in the spring. Recla1Tl3tion has
1TI3intained a weather station at Bedrock since 1975. During this t:iIre, the
average annual precipitation has been about 8 inches, occurring primarily fran
July through October in the form of afternoon thunderstorms. Temperatures have
varied fran dayt:iIre highs of about 100 degrees F in the sunrner to nightt:iIre lows
of about -20 degrees F in the winter.

More detailed information can be obtained fran the Paradox valley Unit
Final Environmental Staterrent (Chapter B). The discussion in this chapter

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