The Jordan River is a 60-mile-long [97 km] river in the U.S. state of Utah. It flows from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake. It is one of three major tributaries to the Great Salt Lake, the other two being the Bear River at the north, and the Weber River at the east.

Course

The Jordan River originates at the north end of the Utah Lake where a pumping station has been created to regulate its flow. It then flows north through Utah and Salt Lake Counties into the southeast portion of the Great Salt Lake, just over the border of Davis County. The river receives the water of several streams flowing down from the Wasatch Range.

River modifications and ecology

The Jordan River is impounded and diverted in many places. It is used for irrigation and forms the core of the Utah Oasis.

The river has been used as a dumping site, and continues to receive pollution. Several superfund site are located along the river. There are several ongoing restoration projects.

History

The first written reference to the river's existence appears to be a mention in the report of Jedediah Smith of an 1827 trip to California. His journal described a June crossing, mentioning that he was "very much strangled" in the attempt, probably due to the high flowrates in the spring due to snowmelt runoff.

When the Mormon pioneers arrived in 1847 to settle the Salt Lake Valley, one of the leaders (Heber C. Kimball) noted the river's similarity to the Jordan River in the Holy Land - flowing from a freshwater lake to an inland salt-sea, through fertile areas. He suggested the river be called the Western Jordan. Later "western" was dropped, leaving the current name.

Natural history

The river continues to be a source of unusual findings such as nonnative tortoises and piranhas.

Recreation

The Jordan River Parkway is an effort by Salt Lake County and the local communities to develop a continuous recreational-use trail along the river from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake, though some sections are not completed.

See also

• List of Utah rivers

References

1. Online references give varying lengths, from 40 to 60 miles
2. Section 303(d) List Fact Sheet for Watershed JORDAN, Impaired Waters, EPA
3. Water Quality, Jordan River Watershed Council
4. Jordan River Restoration, Salt Lake County Public Works
5. Piranha Seized and Killed. KSL.com
6. [http://www.utah.com/stateparks/jordan_river.htm Jordan River Parkway | Utah.com

Further reading

• Morgan, Dale L. (1947). The Great Salt Lake. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press. ISBN 0-87480-478-7

External links

• Utah History Encyclopedia: West Jordan
• Utah History Encyclopedia: Jordan River
• Jordan River Wetlands
• Jordan River Parkway | Utah.com
• Utah Department of Environmental Quality
• Community Fishing Program, Utah DWR
• map
• Jordan River Parkway Trails Master Plan