WSP04095

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1987
• Author: USDOI
• Title: Quality of Water - Colorado River Basin - Progress Report No. 13 - January 1987
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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deep well injection and concluded it to be technically, economically, and
environmentally feasible. After holding public meetings and sending out
newsletters requesting comment, Reclamation determined injection to be
acceptable to the public. Based on these facts, it was concluded that deep
well injection was the preferred disposal method. Reclamation then contracted
with a second consulting firm to do a more detailed study of injection as a
disposal method and to design the disposal system including injection well and
surface facilities. Some of the items studied included: capacity of the
injection zone, depth and difficulty of drilling. water quality of the brine
to be injected, water quality of the formation water, seismicity, the effects
of injection brine on seismicity, and surface treatment facilities. Based on
this new information and data, a final design for the test injection well was
completed in August 1985. Design of the surface facilities is scheduled to be
completed in late 1986.

The ongoing testing program consists of verification and refinement
of controlling brine inflow to the river, design data collecti0n for future
facilities, and drilling and testing an actual injection well. Reclamation
will use outside consultants for its technical assistance on deep well
injection. A test injection well will be constructed to determine
characteristics of the disposal formation. Based on these characteristics,
the required number and location of disposal wells will be determined, well
design will be completed, and required surface facilities will be determined.
After analyzing the total required facilities and projected operation,
maintenance, and replacement costs, a final decision on whether or not to use
deep well brine disposal will be made.

The injection well will be drilled and tested in 1986 and 1987.
When positive test results are obtained, the original Definite plan Report
will be amended, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPAl requirements
will be fulfilled. The constructing of permanent facilities will then follow
the approval of the amended plan. Construction should be completed by 1989.

Conditional water rights were obtained from the State of Colorado,
and the State has approved pumping and 'Nell testing as stipulated in existing
well permits. Reclamation will apply for permanent water rights when an
actual beneficial use, the improvement of water quality in the Dolores River
for downstream water users within the State, is achieved.

18. Price-San Rafael Rivers Unit (Reclamation and USDA)

The Price-San Rafael Rivers unit is located in east-central Utah,
120 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, encompassing Carbon and Emery Counties.
U.S. Highway 50 is a major north-south road in the area passing through Price
and Green River, Utah. Both the Price and San Rafael Rivers drain into the
Colorado River via the Green River.

Agriculture and energy development (primarily
the principal economic base in the Price and San Rafael
the agriculture production is used for livestock feed.
land is irrigated.

coal mining) make up
River Basins. Most of
Only 2 percent of the

There are no natural springs or seeps in the project area. The salt
loading contributed to the Colorado River from the Price and San Rafael River
Basins occurs principally as a result of the dissolution of soluble salts in
the soil and substrata. Return flows from irrigation and runoff from

VII-26

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