Researchers at the University of Utah studied where water in the Jordan River comes from as a step toward sustainable river management.
The Jordan River is on a state list of impaired waters under the Clean Water Act. The river originates at the outlet of Utah Lake and flows north through heavily urbanized areas before it drains into wetlands of the Great Salt Lake. On the way it picks up human runoff and effluent and natural water from tributaries and groundwater.
Water managers believe that one way to restore the river would be to keep more water in it, especially in the fall when low water levels cause concentration of pollutants.
Efforts to restore the river are documented on the website of the Jordan River Commission.