Reconnaissance of the Quality of Surface Water in the Upper Virgin River Basin, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada (TP-83)

By: P. J. Blanchard

The Virgin River drainage from headwaters in Utah to Littlefield, Arizona, has an area of about 5,090 square miles in southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona, and southeastern Nevada. In this area the river is about 110 miles long and receives water from nine major tributaries. Two tributaries, Fort Pierce wash and Beaver Dam Wash, are ephemeral with flow occurring only from irrigation-return, floods or snowmelt, and springs in short reaches. Outcrowing geologic formations that affect water quality in the basin are fine-grained clastic and carbonate rocks of Mesozoic age.

This report on the quality of surface water in the Virgin River basin from the headwaters near Navajo Lake, Utah, to Littlefield, Ariz., was prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Division of Water Rights, Utah Department of Natural Resources. The objectives of the study leading to the report were to obtain information on general chemical characteristics of surface water and to determine effects of the natural environment and water use on these characteristics. The scope of the study did not include an intensive investigation of the effects of man's activities on water quality.

Other Information:
Published: 1986
Pages: 69 p.
Plates: 3
Location: Kane County and Washington County
Media Type: Paper Publication