from the
Provo Area Office

Ancient Remains Found

By: Zachary Nelson, Ph.D. Upper Colorado Basin Regional Archaeologist

Boaters on a walk along a remote beach at Red Fleet Reservoir near Vernal, Utah last May made an exciting discovery while admiring the sandstone vistas and local flora in the area when they found a human skull on the ground in the area.

Without moving the skull, the group alerted the Park Ranger, who called the police and a Bureau of Reclamation archaeologist. When skeletons are found on a reservoir, it is not always obvious how recent a death may have occurred, and it is possible that they could be from an earlier time-period.

The following is an account of what happened after local officials were alerted of the discovery, from Reclamation Archaeologist Zachary Nelson:

The police sent me photos of the skull and noted that other bones were found nearby. I coordinated with the police, the coroner, park ranger, and supervisor to examine the skeleton the next day. Under the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act there are defined time periods and actions for the Federal government if a skeleton or burial is prehistoric.

Monday found a diverse crew boating along the reservoir. As we examined the skull, I pointed out the lack of dental fillings, that the back molars were ground flat, and the front incisors (on the interior) were more indented than modern teeth. These are characteristic of a prehistoric skeleton. Ground down molars are evidence of eating fine grit with meals. As grains were prepared for meals, they would be ground between two stones to make flour. The grinding process would cause fine grit from the rocks to be included in the flour. Over time, this wears down the molars. In addition, prehistoric people, in general, share a common genetic quirk that their incisors are more indented on the interior of the mouth than modern people. This is referred to as "shovel-shaped incisors."

Based on these features, the skeleton was identified as prehistoric. The police's investigation ended, and Reclamation's began. Knowing that the skeleton was indeed prehistoric, I notified additional agencies and Tribes of the discovery. We discussed whether the skeleton should stay in place or be removed. In general, if a skeleton is in no danger of vandalism or erosion then people prefer not to disturb burials. However, in this case the skeleton was found at the high-water mark and was spread across a 100-foot area. Out of respect and reverence for the dead we decided to remove it and save it from further erosion into the reservoir.

The Ute Tribe supplied ground up tobacco to scatter over the bones prior to their removal. To the Tribe, tobacco is a sacred plant, with uses in many ceremonies and whose smoke ascends to the gods. It is also a way of masking one's smell from spirits so that they don't follow you home and cause problems. I scattered the tobacco and held a moment of silence as we removed the bones and began excavating under the visible ones. We wrapped the bones in cotton and placed them in a bag of red cloth, per the Ute's instructions.

However, we were not able to find most of the skeleton. A skull, a few vertebra and ribs were all we found. I think that the burial was below high water and sand eroded from on top of the burial and the bones floated to the high-water mark.

Moving forward, I am coordinating with the Tribes and Agencies to find a suitable burial place for this ancient individual. Reclamation prefers reburials occur off our lands while Tribes prefer to rebury as close as possible. The Bureau of Land Management and Reclamation may join together to rebury this individual, and others formerly residing in museums, near each other on nearby Bureau of Land Management lands in coordination with Tribes. In the meantime, I will revisit the site and see if more of the skeleton may be found.

from the
Western Colorado Area Office

Western Colorado Area Office Negotiates Vinelands Powerplant Lease of Power Privilege Contract

By Justyn Liff, Western Colorado Area Public Affairs

Reclamation, the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District and Grand Valley Water Users Association began negotiations in May 2021, for a lease of power privilege contract for Vinelands Powerplant in Palisade, Colorado. The Vinelands Powerplant will replace the aging Grand Valley Powerplant constructed in 1932.

Sorenson Engineering has proposed constructing a new Powerplant and energy will be distributed by Holy Cross Energy. The Powerplant will use approximately 310 cubic feet per second of water during the irrigation season and 800 cfs during the winter. Greater efficiency of the new facility will allow for more power to be produced at the same flow rates. The proposed Vinelands Powerplant will produce approximately 22,380 mega-watt hours per year, one mega-watt hour can run a microwave for 1,000 hours or 40 days according to vivintsolar.com. After the water runs through the Powerplant it will return to the Colorado River.

Grand Valley Powerplant will continue to during construction of the new Vinelands Powerplant for as long as possible. When Vinelands becomes capable of generating power, Grand Valley will cease operation and the irrigators will transfer operation and maintenance back to Reclamation. The existing Powerplant will be decommissioned but the building will remain on site.

"The Vineland Power Plant will ensure continued use of the hydropower water rights that deliver water into critical endangered fish habitat at the head of the 15-mile reach of the Colorado River downstream of Palisade, Colorado.," said Western Colorado Area Office Manager Ed Warner. "This is a success for wildlife, river recreation and endangered fishes by leaving more water in the 15-mile reach."

The proposed contract will deliver on a Department of the Interior commitment to help development of non-federal hydropower generation on Reclamation projects. Negotiations will continue until terms are agreed upon by all parties.

from the
Four Corners Construction Office

Navajo Code Talkers Sublateral: Reaches 12.1 and 12.2

By Ryan Seamus Royer, Civil Engineer

Reaches 12.1 and 12.2 of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, better known as the Navajo Code Talkers Sublateral, will begin construction later this year, or early 2022. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2024. The reach consists of 17 miles of water transmission pipeline running along the north side of Highway 264 from Ya-Tah-Hey Junction to Tse Bonito, Arizona. This portion of the project will deliver a reliable source of clean drinking water to the Rock Springs and Tsayatoh chapters in New Mexico, and eventually to Window Rock, Ft. Defiance, and surrounding communities in Arizona.

To install the pipeline, permission from the landowner is needed. For the bulk of the 300 plus miles of pipeline on the entire NGWSP, the land is governed by the Navajo Nation. However, the Navajo Code Talkers Sublateral is unique, having the greatest variety of non-Navajo land on the entire project. Land status on this sublateral includes Navajo Trust and Fee lands, individual Indian allotment lands, State Trust lands, and private lands.

The groundwork to obtain the right-of-way began nearly a decade ago. To construct the water pipeline across the allotted lands, a majority of allottees on each allotment must consent to the construction of the water pipeline across their allotment. Similar consent must be obtained from the Navajo Nation for Tribal Trust and Fee lands. The consent gathering process is completed and the Bureau of Indian Affairs has granted the Bureau of Reclamation the right to construct, operate, and maintain the pipeline across the allotted, trust, and fee lands. Land acquisition on the remaining parcels is wrapping up.

from the
Albuquerque Area Office

Drought Partnering Through Creative Water Leasing

By Melissa J. Romero, Writer-Editor

Greater demand for water and increasing temperatures require water management that remains in step with an ever-changing future. Reclamation's drought response continues to address these issues despite a diminishing water supply in the Rio Grande Basin.

With more than $9 million in Reclamation funding, a multi-year cooperative agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation kickstarted the MRG Native Water Leasing Pilot Program in winter 2018 to support the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District in meeting needs of irrigators and species through elective water transactions, water management efficiencies, and improved deliveries to the river to support endangered species.

The program is developing tools to reduce diversions from the river and stretch available supplies. One such tool financially compensates irrigators who voluntarily suspend water deliveries by inviting MRGCD landowners to enroll in a full or partial season leasing forbearance program with the goal of temporarily fallowing up to 3,200 acres per year. Conserved water can then be reallocated where it is needed most, including to the Rio Grande when flows are needed to support endangered species.

The periods of fallowing can serve as a respite of sorts both for farmers who need to perform necessary irrigation system repairs and for the fields, which can contribute to restored soil fertility.

Several milestones of the program have been met. These include implementation of MRGCD efficiency projects for improved delivery control and management at key locations in the system and at locations that return irrigation water to the river. Plans for the next and final phase of the program include expansion of leasing options, completion of several water delivery infrastructure upgrades, testing and evaluation of a new water accounting and operations agreement with MRGCD, and habitat restoration work to expand refugia for endangered species.

Agricultural forbearance studies in the Middle Rio Grande date back to the late 1990s, and gaining landowner trust and participation takes time and patience. NFWF's pilot program is an optimistic yet practical solution to balance support of the farming and ranching community while meeting a key commitment by Reclamation and MRGCD under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2016 Middle Rio Grande Biological Opinion. The program was instrumental in helping the MRGCD stand up its Conservation Advisory Committee, a group consisting of agricultural producers, acequia association leaders, and other community members which meet monthly to advise the MRGCD on its broader conservation initiatives.

"Drought conditions across the West are straining agricultural communities such as the Middle Rio Grande Valley, and these droughts are intensifying," said Jeff Trandahl, executive director, and CEO of NFWF. "The Middle Rio Grande Native Water Leasing Pilot Program demonstrates that farmers, ranchers, and community members can transform their water management in a way that keeps crops growing while at the same time supporting the native fish that rely on our western rivers."

Created by Congress in 1984, NFWF is the nation's largest private conservation grant-maker. The nonprofit foundation works with both the public and private sectors to protect and restore the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats for current and future generations.

from the
Power Office

First Transformer Replacement complete at Glen Canyon Dam

By Amelia Fuller, Mechanical Engineer Glen Canyon Field Division

PAGE, Ariz.-- Glen Canyon Dam recently completed the first of four transformer replacements at the powerplant with the successful installation of a 125-megavolt ampere Generator Step Up transformer, which each include two generators and two spare transformers. Each transformer bank consists of three transformers.

Several skilled groups of engineers, electricians, mechanics, operators, and other technical support crews have contributed to this important milestone. Now that the successful testing and integration of this first bank is in operation at the Glen Canyon Powerplant, we move on to the next bank of transformers and will begin removal of the old machinery and installation of the new, more efficient equipment. The entire project is expected to be complete in fiscal year 2022.

These new transformers were selected for their refined cooling systems, which help Reclamation mitigate the dangers of releasing harmful oil downstream into the Colorado River with the use of Bio-based cooling fluid instead of oil. The new fluid is proven to be nondetrimental to aquatic life. The research and testing of the bio-based cooling fluid is an important manufacturing endeavor to produce more environmentally friendly systems for transformers of this voltage capacity. Before starting up the new generator, all protection devices and alarms had to be tested and set points adjusted for correct signal initiation. Cooling water systems were also filled and tested for proper working flow conditions.

Once protection equipment was tested and accurately working, generator loading was tested at different loads to verify that each transformer could hold the charge at each capacity. Troubleshooting was priority at this critical stage in the K1A completion, and controls and connections to Western Area Power Administration were monitored to ensure all loads were supplied safely and correctly. The old transformers at Glen Canyon Dam have run the powerplant since 1964, and planning and designing their replacement began over 13 years ago. This current replacement of the transformers started in December of 2018 and is making significant progress.

Reclamation announces 2022 operating conditions for Lake Powell & Lake Mead (8/16/21 Press Event)

Bureau of Reclamation announces 2022 operating conditions for Lake Powell and Lake Mead: Historic Drought Impacting the Entire Colorado River Basin.