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<br />to about 4 miles above Littlefield, Arizona w here springs begin to <br />emerge in the mouth of the gorge (See Figure 1). From this point <br />on, flows increase to a cumulative stable inflow of about 65 ft3 Is. In <br />the summer, the springs are the only reliable major source of water <br />for the Littlefield area and downstream users. <br />Recent data analyzed by the W P R S in dicate that the water that <br />disappears in the influent reach is the source of the Littlefield <br />Springs. Furthermore, these waters have been analyzed by the WPRS <br />using carbon -14 and tritium value methods. Tritium values have <br />been compared with tritium values in rainfall at Las Vegas, Nevada. <br />When adjustments are made for the rate of radioactive decay in <br />tritium, the resulting values indicate that water entering the influent <br />reach above the Virgin River Gorge requires a minimum travel time of <br />22 years before it is discharged in the Littlefield Springs. As a <br />result of this new data that confirms dow nstream Virgin River flow <br />irregularities, the salt load removed at La Verkin Springs may be <br />somewhat modified and delayed in terms of its beneficial effects at <br />downstream stations. <br />Below Littlefield, Arizona water rights totaling 65 ft3/s are held <br />by canal companies at Mesquite, Bunkerville, and Riverside, Nevada. <br />The major diversion takes place near Mesquite. During the summer <br />months all flows except flash floods are diverted. Diverted water is <br />used for irrigation during the summer months and for flushing salts <br />from farmlands during the winter months. The water that flows past <br />Riverside, Nevada eventually reaches Lake Mead. <br /> <br />002515 <br />