Reconnaissance of Chemical Quality of Surface Water and Fluvial Sediment in the Price River Basin, Utah (TP-39)

By: J. C. Mundorff

The Price River basin is mainly in Carbon and Emery Counties in east-central Utah, and the total drainage area is about 1,900 square miles. The Price River flows in a generally southeasterly direction toward its junction with the Green River. Altitudes in the basin range from about 10,440 feet above mean sea level in the headwaters to about 4,200 feet at the mouth. Normal annual precipitation is more than 30 inches in headwaters areas and is less than 8 inches in the downstream part of the basin. Surface rocks in the basin range in age from Jurassic to Quaternary, but the rocks having predominant influence on water quality are marine shales of Cretaceous age.

The primary purpose of the reconnaissance on which this report is based was to obtain information about (1) the general chemical characteristics of surface water throughout the basin, (2) the effect of the natural environment and of present water use on these chemical characteristics, and (3) general characteristics of the sediment discharge of selected streams in the basin. A secondary objective was the definition of specific problem areas or reaches in which marked deterioration in water quality was evident.

Other Information:
Published: 1972
Pages: 55 p.
Plate: 3 pl.
Location: Carbon County and Emery County
Media Type: Paper Publication