Paria River
A backpacker at the confluence of Buckskin Gulch and the Paria River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateUtah, Arizona
CountiesGarfield, Kane, Coconino
Physical characteristics
SourceNear the Pink Cliffs
 • locationTropic, Utah
 • coordinates37°39′07″N 112°04′41″W / 37.65194°N 112.07806°W / 37.65194; -112.07806[1]
 • elevation6,437 ft (1,962 m)
MouthColorado River
 • location
Lee's Ferry, Arizona
 • coordinates
36°51′31″N 111°36′03″W / 36.85861°N 111.60083°W / 36.85861; -111.60083[1]
 • elevation
3,084 ft (940 m)
Length95 mi (153 km)[2]
Basin size1,410 sq mi (3,700 km2)[3]
Discharge 
 • locationLee's Ferry[4]
 • average28 cu ft/s (0.79 m3/s)[5]
 • minimum1 cu ft/s (0.028 m3/s)
 • maximum16,100 cu ft/s (460 m3/s)

The Paria River /pəˈriːə/ is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 95 miles (153 km) long,[2] in southern Utah and northern Arizona in the United States.[1] It drains a rugged and arid region northwest of the Colorado, flowing through roadless slot canyons along part of its course.

Geography

A portion of upper Paria Canyon

It is formed in southern Utah, in southwestern Garfield County from several creeks that descend from the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, meeting just north of Tropic. It flows SSE across Kane County and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. Along the Arizona state line, it descends through the Vermilion Cliffs in the Paria Canyon and onto the Paria Plateau. It joins the Colorado from the northwest approximately 5 mi (8 km) southwest of Page, Arizona and the Glen Canyon Dam. The lower 20 mi (32 km) of the river are within the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, which is administered by the Bureau of Land Management; a permit is required for any overnight visit. The Paria is essentially a large creek and is not navigable.

A 2004 study estimated that the Tropic Ditch, a historic artificial irrigation canal that diverts water from the East Fork Sevier River, loses 1060 acre-feet per year to seepage, and half of that seepage (530 acre-feet per year) ends up in the Paria River, bringing with it 1829 tons of salt per year. To help restore the salinity of the Paria and Colorado Rivers to more natural levels, the Tropic and East Fork Irrigation Company have proposed replacing the last 5.5 miles of the ditch with a pipeline. The cost may be supplemented by a grant from the Bureau of Reclamation's Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program.[6]

Attractions

Buckskin Gulch

The Paria is one of the most popular destinations for canyoneering in the region. Buckskin Gulch, a side canyon along the river in the narrows section, is considered to be one of the longest and deepest slot canyons in the United States. The Paria is also home to several important historical, geological, and biological resources. Lee's Ferry and the adjoining settlement are located within the canyon upstream of the confluence with the Colorado River, with several other abandoned settlements further north. The Paria and several nearby rivers and canyons also are the site of several well-preserved specimens of Native American petroglyphs, prehistoric drawings, and symbols carved into stone. The Paria boasts a vibrant desert riparian habitat that is home to several sensitive and endangered species and is also the location of Wrather Arch, the longest natural arch outside of Utah (although this claim may be superseded by Aloba Arch).

About a mile south of the river and the ghost town of Paria is the Paria Movie Set which was the site for several western movies. The old film set in the canyon was a popular attraction but was damaged in a flash flood in 1998.[7] The buildings were dismantled and rebuilt in a nearby location by volunteers. In 2006 these new buildings were destroyed in a suspicious fire.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Paria River
  2. 1 2 "The National Map". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved Feb 25, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Colorado River Watershed" (PDF). Securing Arizona's Water Future. Arizona Department of Water Resources. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  4. ↑ "USGS Gage #09382000 on the Paria River at Lees Ferry, AZ" (PDF). National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1924–2012. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  5. ↑ "USGS Gage #09382000 on the Paria River at Lees Ferry, AZ" (PDF). National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1924–2012. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  6. ↑ "Tropic Ditch Replacement Project Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact" (PDF). Bureau of Reclamation, Provo Area Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  7. ↑ Paria Movie Set Restoration Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, BLM Volunteer Feature, 2001; retrieved 12 September 2006
  8. ↑ Fire tears through replica movie sets Archived 2012-02-06 at the Wayback Machine, Salt Lake Tribune, August 26, 2006; retrieved 12 September 2006
  9. ↑ Rebuilt Kanab set: Volunteers who built the facility are furious, Salt Lake Tribune, August 29, 2006; retrieved 12 September 2006
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