Reconnaissance of Water Quality in the Duchesne River Basin and Some Adjacent Drainage Areas, Utah (TP-55)

By: J. C. Mundorff

A water-quality reconnaissance in the Duchesne River basin and some adjacent drainage areas covered an area of about 4,400 square miles - about 4,000 square miles in the Duchesne River basin and the remainder in the drainage areas of Pariette Draw and Pelican Lake. Data were obtained by the U.S. Geological Survey one or more times at 108 sites during the period March 1973 to September 1974 and by the Geological Surveyor other Federal agencies at 49 other sites during earlier years. Precipitation in the study area was generally much above normal in the 1973 water year and was much below normal in the 1974 water year. Streamflow was near to appreciably above normal in 1973 and was near to appreciably below normal in 1974.

The purpose of the water-quality reconnaissance on which this report is based was to obtain information about (1) the general inorganic chemical characteristics of the surface water throughout the Duchesne River basin, (2) the effects of the natural environment and of present water use on the chemical characteristics of the surface water in the basin, and (3) the general characteristics of the sediment discharge from the basin.

Other Information:
Published: 1977
Pages: 57 p.
Plates: 5 pl.
Location: Duchesne County, Uintah County, and Wasatch County
Media Type: Paper Publication