News Release Archive

Public Scoping Continues on Paradox Valley Salinity Control Projects

Media Contact: Terry Stroh, (970) 248-0608, tstroh@usbr.gov
Justyn Hock, jhock@usbr.gov

For Release: September 11, 2012

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Reclamation announced today that it will hold three public scoping meetings to solicit public input on a planning report and environmental impact statement concerning the Paradox Valley Salinity Control Unit, located near Bedrock, Colo. The meetings will be held:

• Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. – Paradox, Colo., Paradox Valley School, 21501 6 Mile Road
• Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. - Montrose, Colo., Holiday Inn Express, 1391 S Townsend Ave.
• Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. - Grand Junction, Colo., Colorado Mesa University, Student Center, 1100 North Ave., Room 221

Historically, the Dolores River picked up an estimated 205,000 tons of salt annually as it passed through the Paradox Valley. Since the mid-1990's much of this salt has been collected by the Paradox Valley Salinity Control Unit in shallow wells along the Dolores River and then injected into deep subsurface geologic formations. The deep well injection program has removed about 110,000 tons of salt annually from the Dolores and Colorado rivers.

The current deep injection well is projected to reach the end of its useful life in three to five years under current operations. Reclamation is seeking public input to identify and evaluate brine disposal alternatives to replace or supplement the existing brine injection well. Initial alternatives include developing a new injection well and using evaporation ponds.

The project will be described and questions will be answered at the meetings; comments may be provided at the scoping meeting, emailed to tstroh@usbr.gov or mailed to Bureau of Reclamation, 2764 Compass Drive, Suite 106, Grand Junction CO 81506 by November 26, 2012.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.