from the
Four Corners Construction Office

Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Update on Bureau of Reclamation Construction Contracts

By Moncef Tihami, Design and Commissioning Chief, Four Corners Construction Office

Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project construction activities are moving forward as planned with 267 out of the 300 miles of pipeline associated with the Project either installed, in construction, or under contract.

• Most recently, the Block 4C-8 pipeline was completed in September 2022.
• The San Juan Lateral water transmission pipeline is now installed from Little Water, New Mexico in the north, through Reach 13 and the Gallup Regional System in the south.
• Pipeline installation has begun on the Navajo Code Talkers Sublateral between Ya-ta-hey Junction and Tse Bonito, which will eventually deliver drinking water to the Window Rock/Fort Defiance areas in Arizona, as well as the Rock Springs and Tsayatoh chapters in New Mexico.
• Good progress continues with the construction on the Tooh Haltsooi (4) and Bahastl'ah (7) Pumping Plants in the Sheep Springs and Twin Lakes Chapters, respectively, which are expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
• Reclamation awarded the Tsé Da'azkání (2) and Tó Ałts'íísí (3) Pumping Plants in the Sanostee chapter in September 2022, with construction beginning in spring 2023.
• Block 4A-4B, also within the Sanostee Chapter, contains 18 miles of 42-inch pipeline and is expected to be awarded in February 2023, with construction also starting this spring.

Reclamation held an Industry Day in November to gather input from water treatment firms on the upcoming design-build contract for the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant. Over the course of 2023 and early 2024, Reclamation will qualify and evaluate design-build teams with plans to award a contract in the spring of 2024. The SJLWTP is expected to be fully built and delivering drinking water to Navajo Communities in western New Mexico and the Window Rock/Fort Defiance area, along with the City of Gallup, in 2028.

from the
Albuquerque Area Office

Reclamation seeks public input on Elephant Butte Recreation

By Upper Colorado Basin Public Affairs

The Bureau of Reclamation's Albuquerque Area Office is surveying the public to learn more about recreational interests at Elephant Butte Lake State Park and the Historic District.

Reclamation recently released a survey seeking public input aimed at evaluating and improving recreation services and programs available at Elephant Butte including the Historic District (Dam Site Recreation Area & Fish Hatchery/Paseo del Rio Recreation Area) that is managed by Reclamation and not New Mexico State Parks. The voluntary survey includes a series of questions ranging from recreation facilities to visitor services and recreation programs.

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"While Elephant Butte's primary purpose is to store water for irrigation, we are pleased that it continues to provide a secondary benefit of recreation to thousands of visitors each year," said Albuquerque Area Manager Jennifer Faler. "The information provided in this survey will assist our recreation staff as they evaluate concessions contracts and generally manage recreation at the reservoir in the future."

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The survey is available on the Upper Colorado Basin Regional website and the link was also distributed through social media and a news release. Paper copies of the survey are available to those who wish to fill it out and mail or e-mail it in, and Reclamation staff will also visit the Elephant Butte area in the coming months to distribute surveys and help boost responses.

from the
Power Office

In-sync at Flaming Gorge Power Plant

By Billy Elbrock, Facility Manager, Flaming Gorge Dam

The installation of a new auto synchronizing system was completed at the Flaming Gorge Powerplant in September 2022. The plant's auto synchronizing system has utilized the Phoenix 6000 equipment since the 1970s, and though that system was operating sufficiently, it was starting to show signs of failure and needed to be replaced.

The auto synchronizing system allows a generator to automatically start up and tie into the electric grid without causing damage to the generator. A large part of its purpose is to ensure the generator is operating at the correct voltage and speed before connecting to the grid. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) was contracted to provide the synchronizing unit along with settings to meet the plant's needs, and the upgrade was performed mostly in-house. The new system utilizes an SEL 451, which gathers information from the generator then tells the exciter and governor to adjust speed and voltage; then, when everything is just right, it tells the breaker to close, connecting the generator to the grid.

Since the SEL 451 has very few similarities to the old Phoenix 6000, all design work also needed to be completed in-house to meet plant requirements. This in-house design was able to eliminate 10 relays that were points of failure in the past, which substantially increased reliability.

The skills and abilities of the in-house personnel resulted in the system being commissioned and it is operating with zero major problems.

Special thanks to Kasey Frandsen, electrical engineer, Jared Marquis, plant supervisor, Matt Miller, electrician and Dylan Snyder, electronic technician, for their work on this project.

Blue Mesa powerplant back online to produce power after main breaker replacement

By Clint Stone, Upper Colorado Basin Public Affairs and Eric Langley, Blue Mesa Powerplant Supervisor

Both power generation units at the Blue Mesa powerplant came back online Dec. 22, 2022, after being offline since mid-September 2022 while the main breaker replacement project was underway. The powerplant is controlled at the Glen Canyon Control Center.

The project included replacing the bus work between the generators and the main transformer and the generator main breakers, and the work was completed by Gardner Zemke. The bus is a type of electrical junction in which all the incoming and outgoing electrical currents meet, where the electrical bus collects all the electric power at one location. The generator main breakers, much like circuit breakers in your home, shut off power if the overall load demand grows too high or if there is another serious problem in the electrical system.

Though still operable, the bus system was in service since 1967 when the powerplant was originally connected to the grid, and the main breakers had been in service since 1989, so they were each due for maintenance and replacement. The original bus connections also held asbestos that need to be remediated safely and properly disposed of during the project.

This is the first part of a larger project that includes breaker replacements at both Blue Mesa and Crystal powerplants; Crystal powerplant is scheduled to begin work on the project in February 2023.

from the
Provo Area Office

Neither Wyoming snow, nor wind, nor cold of night
Reclamation infrastructure improvement project at Big Sandy Dam is on course to be completed in 2023

By Chris Watt, Upper Colorado Basin Public Affairs

After 17 months of work, Reclamation's infrastructure improvement project at western Wyoming's Big Sandy Dam is approximately 70% completed and ahead of schedule.

The new and newly improved structures are expected to be up and running in August 2023, with total completion of the $14.5 million project scheduled for November.

The dam is located on Big Sandy Creek, ten miles north of Farson and was originally completed in 1952 as part of the Eden Project.

The main purpose of the ongoing improvement project is to raise the crest of the dam by 5 feet to increase the storage capacity of Big Sandy Reservoir and improve the operation of the reservoir by allowing more consistent water deliveries throughout the irrigation season. Currently, the storage capacity at Big Sandy Reservoir is 38,600 acre-feet. A higher spillway crest will allow a total storage capacity of 52,300 acre-feet for an increase of 13,700 acre-feet.

However, the project also includes additional plans to rebuild some of the aging infrastructure of the 85-foot-high earthen dam, including excavation and rehabilitation of existing dam and dike embankments, modifications to the outlet works, toe drain, filter trench, and feeder canal.

"So far, we have demolished all six of the feeder-canal drop structures and rebuilt them," said Reclamation Resident Engineer, Rick Long, from the Provo Area Office. "We have also completed the toe drains, cement-bentonite cutoff wall, and dike rehabilitation and all of the drop structures."

Toe drains are placed at the base of the river side of an earthen dam to catch and redirect any water that may seep through the earthworks. A cement-bentonite, or CB, cutoff wall is a barrier installed into a section of embankment, down to the bedrock, to prevent water from passing through and weakening the embankment. The six drop structures, installed in the feeder canal that takes water from Big Sandy Reservoir to Eden Reservoir, slow fast-moving water and allow the water to drop down in elevation, preventing excessive erosion in the canal.

"Currently, we are working on the spillway raise and finishing up the outlet works filter diaphragm," said Long. "We are also working on the final touches of the feeder canal headworks structure."

When asked about working through the Wyoming winters, he said, "Last winter was very mild and had little effect on the project. This year we have had a lot more snow, wind and cold temperatures. The contractor was well prepared for the weather and was able to continue working despite the harsh conditions. They have had some equipment struggles due to the cold temperatures but have used propane heaters and tenting to warm the ground and concrete placements. These measures have enabled the concrete to cure, providing a good quality product."

The Big Sandy Reservoir provides storage for irrigation, flood control and recreation. It is typically operated to maintain as much storage as possible for irrigation use. Irrigation flows are released directly into the Means Canal for irrigation of Eden Project lands. This project is expected to help meet a portion of the existing irrigation demand and help secure the water supply in the Farson/Eden areas.

The project was anticipated to be completed by November 2023, but Long says it is currently well ahead of schedule and could be finished as early as August. "Substantial completion for the project is 23 Nov 23," added Long. "However, we are currently well ahead of schedule and hope to reach substantial completion by August 2023."

from the
Western Colorado Area Office

Western Colorado Area Office update

By Justyn Liff, Western Colorado Area Public Affairs

Vinelands Power Plant

Construction on the Vinelands Power Plant in Palisade, Colorado concluded in November 2022 and the new power plant began operations November 16. Orchard Mesa Irrigation District and Grand Valley Water Users Association were the recipients of a lease of power privilege from Reclamation to build the new power plant which will produce 22,380 mega-watt hours (MWhr) a year (one MWhr is equivalent to the amount of electricity used by about 330 homes for one hour).

Partnerships like these promote clean energy production and build on Reclamation's commitment to sustainable hydropower development and environmental stewardship.

ANS decontamination stations

Construction is underway on two new aquatic nuisance species (ANS) decontamination stations at Western Colorado Area Office reservoirs: the Dutch Charlie Campground at Ridgway Reservoir located near Ridgway, Colorado, and the Vallecito Marina at Vallecito Reservoir located northeast of Durango, Colorado.

The new facilities will be permanent fixtures, housing instant water heaters and high-pressure pumps capable of performing more extensive decontamination measures to help eradicate ANS such as dreissenid mussels, which are a significant threat to Reclamation facilities. These prolific breeders not native to North America not only negatively affect the natural ecology of native fisheries, but also settle on or within water infrastructure and can fail water transmissions. The decontamination stations will serve all marine vessels utilizing each reservoir.

Construction of both stations is scheduled to be complete in May 2023.

To learn more about Reclamation's ANS Program visit: Invasive Mussels | Bureau of Reclamation (usbr.gov)

Paradox update

The Western Colorado Area Office recently resumed injection testing of the Paradox Valley Unit (PVU), a crucial salinity control facility for the Colorado River system. Continuation of the test started again January 23, and follows an initial six-month injection test used to determine the viability of the injection well and injection zone. Seismic data acquired during the initial test indicate lower rates of induced earthquakes and no unexpected seismic activity.

As in the initial test, the test extension will continue at a reduced rate of 115 gallons per minute. Reclamation will continue to closely monitor seismicity and if unfavorable conditions are observed, the injection test will be suspended until it is deemed safe to continue. The test extension will continue until completion of a risk analysis in late 2023.

In case you missed it:

• The Department of the Interior recently announced a nearly $580 million allocation to continue fulfilling settlements of Indian water rights claims - many in the UCB, using funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund. Read more here: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Supports $580 Million Investment to Fulfill Indian Water Rights Settlements | U.S. Department of the Interior (doi.gov)
• Reclamation scientists at the Provo Area Office studied the effects of construction noise on wildlife. Read more here: Making noise (usbr.gov)
• The Great Salt Lake Basin Study was selected to receive $3,174,000 in federal funding and $3,320,000 in non-federal funding. This Basin Study will help water managers across all four states update and coordinate modeling efforts, engage a diverse set of stakeholders and public interests and identify mitigation and adaptation strategies to support sustainable management. In 2021, the Great Salt Lake Basin fell below its historical low elevation. Read more here: Reclamation announces $4.6 million in funding for Basin Studies (usbr.gov)
• The Green River razorback sucker population got a significant boost in numbers of wild-spawned juvenile fish, thanks largely to the ongoing efforts of the Bureau of Reclamation and its partners in the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. Read more here: Razorback sucker population sees rapid growth in 2022 (usbr.gov)

100th Anniversary of the Colorado River Compact

Reclamation commemorates 100 years of collaboration in this video series about how the 1922 Colorado River compact became the Framework for Our Future.
The videos can also be found on our YouTube playlist here: 100th Commemoration of 1922 Colorado River Compact