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# Interior Region 7 • Upper Colorado Basin

Encompassing all or parts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming

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# Paradox Valley Unit

Quick Nav                  - Environmental Impact Statement
                  - Other Paradox Valley Unit Documents
                  - Contacts

The Paradox Valley Unit is currently undergoing an injection test to determine the operability of the injection well and injection zone at a reduced injection rate. Information gathered during the test will help guide future operational decisions.

During the test extracted brine groundwater is being injected into the 16,000-foot-deep well at a reduced rate of 115 gallons per minute (67% of past operations). Reclamation will continue to closely monitor seismicity; if unfavorable conditions are observed, the injection test will be suspended until it is deemed safe to continue. The test will continue while a risk analysis is being conducted which is expected to be completed in late 2024.

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## Background

Click here to view full size diagram

The Paradox Valley Unit was constructed to assist in meeting the objectives and standards of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 (P.L. 80-845) and the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974, as amended and supplemented (P.L. 93-320). The Salinity Control Act authorizes the construction, operations, and maintenance of works in the Colorado River Basin to control the salinity of water delivered to users in the United States and the Republic of Mexico.
Click here to view full size map

The PVU is located along the Dolores River in western Montrose County, approximately 50 miles southwest of Grand Junction, Colorado, and 10 miles east of the Colorado-Utah border. Its purpose is to extract naturally occurring brine groundwater in the Paradox Valley, thereby preventing it from entering the Dolores River, which is a major tributary of the Colorado River.

Saline concentrations of this natural brine groundwater have been measured in excess of 250,000 milligrams per liter—that's about eight times saltier than seawater—and have contributed up to 200,000 tons of salt per year to the Colorado River system. The PVU was designed to prevent the natural salt load from degrading the water quality of the main stem of the Colorado River.

From 1996 – 2019, the PVU prevented an average of 95,000 tons of salt each year from entering the Dolores and Colorado rivers, which provided substantial benefits—up to $23 million annually— such as improved water quality, increased life of municipal and industrial infrastructure, and increased crop yields for all downstream water users in the Colorado River Basin.

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**In-Depth**
                  -  Paradox Valley Unit of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program – Final Environmental Impact Statement **

### Related Projects & Facilities

                  - CRBSCP - Grand Valley Unit - Title II
                  - CRBSCP - Lower Gunnison Basin Unit - Title II
                  - CRBSCP - McElmo Creek Unit - Title II
                  - CRBSCP - Meeker Dome Unit - Title II
                  - CRBSCP - Paradox Valley Unit - Title II

### Related Links

                  - Natural Resources Conservation Service – Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program **
                  - Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum Web site **

## Environmental Impact Statement

Because the existing brine injection well is nearing the end of its useful life, the Bureau of Reclamation investigated alternatives for disposing of the brine. Reclamation  prepared and released a Final Environmental Impact Statement. Alternatives analyzed in the FEIS included a new injection well, evaporation ponds, zero liquid discharge technology, and no action.

After weighing the benefits and impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the FEIS, the Bureau of Reclamation has identified the no action alternative as the preferred alternative. The no action alternative achieves the best balance among the various goals and objectives outlined in the FEIS, including:
              - optimizing costs; 
              - minimizing adverse effects on the affected environment;
              - minimizing the use of nonrenewable resources;
              - consistency with Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plans;
              - and being in the best interest of the public, including considerations of health and safety.

The no action alternative would be implemented after the current injection well is decommissioned.

New technically, environmentally, and economically viable alternatives may be investigated in the future to continue salinity control at Paradox Valley.

### Paradox Valley Unit of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program – Final Environmental Impact Statement:

              - Volume 1 - Final EIS **Link is to a PDF file
              - Volume 2 - Appendices A-D **Link is to a PDF file
              - Volume 3 - Appendices E-J **Link is to a PDF file
              - Volume 4 - Appendices K-M **Link is to a PDF file
              - Volume 5 - Appendices N **Link is to a PDF file

### Supporting technical documents

#### Alternative B

              - Paradox Valley Unit 2nd Well Design Final Report **Link is to a PDF file
              - Technical Studies and Evaluations for the Second Injection Well Alternative at the Paradox Valley Unit **Link is to a PDF file
              - Evidence for Far-Field Reservoir Pressurization: Report and Injection Data **Link is to a ZIP file
              - Memo – Paradox Valley Unit Second Well Site Investigation Consultant Review Board **Link is to a PDF file
              - Assessment of a Potential Second Injection Well Site – Paradox Valley Unit Saline Water Disposal Project **Link is to a PDF file
              - Review of Geologic Investigations and Injection Well Site Selection, Paradox Valley Unit **Link is to a PDF file

#### Alternative C

              - Paradox Valley Unit Salinity Control Investigations – Hydrogen Sulfide Management 50% Design Final Report **Link is to a PDF file
              - Pond Design Strategy Final Report – Pond Optimization **Link is to a PDF file
              - Feasibility and Cost Analysis Findings and Recommendation Report Paradox Valley Unit Byproducts Disposal Study **Link is to a PDF file
              - Pond Operational Strategy Final Report – Pond Optimization **Link is to a PDF file
              - Paradox Valley Unit Salinity Control Investigations – Hydrogen Sulfide Management, Bedrock            CO, Treatment Options Bench Testing Final Report **Link is to a PDF file
              - Site Selection Report Pond Optimization for Paradox Valley Unit Evaporation Ponds **Link is to a PDF file

#### Alternative D

              - Zero Liquid Discharge Demonstration Project Final Report **Link is to a PDF file
              - Paradox Valley Unit Brine Crystallization Technology Assessment **Link is to a PDF file

#### Questions and comments can be submitted to: ** paradoxeis@usbr.gov

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## Other Paradox Valley Unit Documents

### Paradox Valley Seismic Network Annual Reports

              - 2022 Annual Report Paradox Valley Seismic Network **Link is to a PDF file
              - 2021 Annual Report Paradox Valley Seismic Network **Link is to a PDF file
              - 2020 Annual Report Paradox Valley Seismic Network **Link is to a PDF file
              - 2019 Annual Report Paradox Valley Seismic Network **Link is to a PDF file

### Published Papers

**Geophysical Journal International - December 2014***Induced seismicity constraints on subsurface geological structure, Paradox Valley, Colorado***

**Geophysical Journal International - October 2014***Maximum magnitude estimations of induced earthquakes at Paradox Valley, Colorado, from cumulative injection volume and geometry of seismicity clusters***

**Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth - June 2014***Geological structure of the Paradox Valley Region, Colorado, and relationship to seismicity induced by deep well injection***

**Seismological Research Letters - June 2014***The 24 January 2013 ML 4.4 Earthquake near Paradox, Colorado, and Its Relation to Deep Well Injection ***

**Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America - April 2005***Deep-Injection and Closely Monitored Induced Seismicity at Paradox Valley, Colorado ***

### Other Documents

              - Paradox Valley Seismic Network Status Report **Link is to a PDF file  - December 2021
              - Technical Memorandum 86-68330-2020-07 – Analysis of the March 4th, 2019 *MW* 4.5 Earthquake and Its Aftershocks Paradox Valley Unit, Colorado **Link is to a PDF file  - July 2020
              - Technical Memorandum 85-833000-2017-15 – Integrated Subsurface Geologic Model, Paradox Valley, Colorado **Link is to a PDF file  - June 2018
              - Technical Memorandum 85-833000-2017-14 - Compilation of Well Data in the Vicinity of Paradox Valley, CO **Link is to a PDF file  - July 2017
              - Technical Memorandum TM-85-833000-2017-10 – Trends of Induced Seismicity and Pressures Following the 2013 Change in Injection Operations at the Paradox Valley Unit, Colorado **Link is to a PDF file  - July 2017
              - Technical Memorandum TM-85-833000-2016-16 – Identification of Deformation in Paradox Valley using InSAR **Link is to a PDF file  - Dec. 2016
              - Paradox Valley Unit Brine Crystallization Technology Assessment **Link is to a PDF file  - September 2016
              - Estimates of Dissolved-Solids Load of the Dolores River in the Paradox Valley **Link is to a PDF file  ( 1988 through 2009 ) 
              - The ML 4.4 Earthquake of January 24, 2013: Report and Earthquake Catalog **Link is to a ZIP file
              - Evidence for Far-Field Reservoir Pressurization: Report and Injection Data **Link is to a ZIP file
              - Considerations in Raising the Maximum Allowable Surface Injection Pressure at Paradox Valley **Link is to a PDF file  - November 2015
              - Paradox Salinity Control Well No. 1 Permit Reauthorization **Link is to a PDF file   - August 2011
              - Overview of PVU-Induced Seismicity (1996 - 2009) and Implications for Future Injection Operations **Link is to a PDF file  - December 2009
              - An Axisymmetric Coupled Flow and Deformation Model... **Link is to a PDF file  (Roeloffs & Denlinger) - August 2009
              - Summary Report for Paradox Valley **Link is to a PDF file  - June 2008
              - Paradox Valley - Phase 3 & 4 Technical Memoranda **Link is to a PDF file  - June 2008
              - Paradox Valley - Phase 2 Technical Memoranda **Link is to a PDF file  - April 2008
              - Paradox Valley - Phase 1 Technical Memoranda **Link is to a PDF file  - February 2008
              -  Report of Operations **Link is to a PDF file  - August 2001
              - Final Supplemental Definite Plan Report and Environmental Assessment **Link is to a PDF file  - May 1997
              - Report of Evaluation of Injection Testing for Paradox Valley Injection Test No. 1 **Link is to a PDF file  (Envirocorp) - June 1995
              - Final Geological Well Report **Link is to a PDF file  (Clarence Harr) - November 1988
              - Area of Least Resistance to Fluid Movement and Pressure Rise **Link is to a PDF file  (Bremkamp & Harr) - September 1988
              - Geophysical Interpretation of Seismic Data - Paradox Valley Unit **Link is to a PDF file  (Katz & Carroll) - July 1984
              - Geophysical Interpretation - Seismic Data - Paradox Valley Unit **Link is to a PDF file  (Bremkamp et al.) - 1984
              - OTS Analysis Report **Link is to a PDF file  - December 1983
              - OGS Associates Report - Concerns Involving Paradox Valley Deep Disposal Well Project **Link is to a PDF file  - July 1983
              - Williams Brothers Engineering Company Final Report **Link is to a PDF file - April 1982
              - Final Environmental Impact Statement **Link is to a PDF file  - March 1979
              - Definite Plan Report **Link is to a PDF file  - September 1978
              - Definite Plan Report Appendix A **Link is to a PDF file  - September 1978
              - Definite Plan Report Appendix B **Link is to a PDF file  - September 1978
              - Feasibility Study of Brine Disposal by Deep Well Injection **Link is to a PDF file  (Frank P. Turner) - November 1975

Back to Quick Nav **

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## For more information please contact:

**Andy Nicholas, Facility Operations Specialist**            Paradox Valley Field Office            Bureau of Reclamation            P.O. Box 20            Bedrock, CO 81411** (970) 859-7214** anicholas@usbr.gov

*Last Updated: 11/13/23*

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