The salt alleviation project at Malaga Bend on the extreme lower Pecos River in New Mexico has resulted in a 32% reduction in the average daily salt gain immediately downstream, according to the technical advisor to the Pecos Compact Commission.
Dr. Scott Van Winkle, in reporting the development in mid-May, also noted:
“Southwest Salt is currently operating with 5 ponds for a total of 90 acres of evaporation surface. In 2018, over 350 acre-feet were pumped from the brine aquifer producing about 50,000 tons of dried salt. This salt is sold for water softening and cattle feed.
“As of March 2019, about 50 acre-feet have been pumped for the year. The plan is to add another 20 acres of evaporation surface in 2019 with expectations of 60,000 tons of produced salt.”
Salt springs at Malaga Bend have long been considered major contributors to the salt load at Red Bluff Reservoir just south of the New Mexico-Texas line.
