Discharge and Physical-Property Measurements from Virgin River Narrows, AZ, to Lake Mead, NV, February 12, 2003

Abstract

On February 12, 2003, synoptic-discharge, water-temperature, and specific-conductance measurements in the lower Virgin River indicated net increases of 67.5 ft³/s (cubic feet per second), 5.5°C (degrees Celsius), and 130 µS/cm (microsiemens per centimeter), respectively, between U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations above the Virgin River Narrows and at Littlefield, Arizona. Between the gaging stations at Littlefield, Arizona, and above Lake Mead, Nevada, discharge and water-temperature measurements indicated a net decrease of 42 ft³/s and 4.0°C, respectively, with specific conductance indicating a net increase of 450 µS/cm. General trends in discharge, water temperature, and specific conductance seem consistent with a river basin where surface water is diverted for agricultural and municipal purposes. Some of the diverted water is recycled back into the river through the shallow ground-water system downstream of the diversions.

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