WSP07367

• File Number: 8276.851
• Description: La Verkin Springs Unit - Colorado River Salinity Control Program
• State: UT
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 12/1/1979
• Title: La Verkin Springs Unit Utah Status Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

I. INTRODUCTION

.

The La Verkin Springs are saline springs located in a narrow
canyon on the Virgin river, a tributary of the Colorado River, in
southwestern Utah (See Frontispiece Map). These springs contribute
109,000 tons of salt to the Virgin River annually, and are a major
point source contributor of salt to the Colorado River system.
Removal of the salt would be beneficial to all downstream water users.
This investigation is part of a comprehensive program designed
to identify and implement programs to improve the water quality of
the Colorado River. The program contains an investigation phase and
an limplementation phase and is prompted by the continuing increase
in the salinity of the Lower Colorado River and the importance of
maintaining this salinity at or below the levels recorded for 1972.
In response of Public Law 92-500, the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act, the Colorado River Basin States adopted salinity control
standards for the Colorado River. These standards, as stated below
for the three applicable stations on the Lower Colorado River, have
been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency:

Station

Flow-Weighted
Average TDS Y

Below Hoover Dam
Below Parker Dam
At Imperial Dam

723 mg/L ~/
747 mg/L
879 mg/L

The present salinity of the Colorado River at Imperial Dam is approxi-
mately 820 mg/L and is expected to increase. The overall rising
trend of the river's salinity is shown by the following illustration of
recorded salinity levels at Imperial Dam.

.

002508

Y Total Dissolved Solids.
~/ Milligrams Per Liter.

1