Watershed Planning and Restoration Program

Water Quality

Water Quality | Beneficial Use | Watershed Impairments

Beneficial Use Classifications

What is Beneficial Use?

The State of Utah Division of Water Quality determines beneficial use classifications for streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs in the State. These beneficial use designations are associated with water quality standards. Therefore, the amount of pollution that a given water body can have is determined by it's beneficial use.

According to Utah's Water Resources: Planning for the Future which the State Division of Water Resources published in 2001, beneficial use is, "Use of water for one or more of the following purposes including but not limited to, domestic, municipal, irrigation, hydro power generation, industrial, commercial, recreation, fish propagation, and stock watering; the basis, measure and limit of a water right.

Jordan River Watershed Beneficial Use Designation

Waters within the Jordan River Watershed have the following classifications:

WATER BODY	LOCATION	CLASSIFICATION
Jordan River	Farmington Bay to North Temple Street, Salt Lake City	2B, 3B, 3D, 4
Jordan River	North Temple Street in Salt Lake City to confluence with Little Cottonwood Creek	2B, 3B, 4
Surplus Canal	Great Salt Lake to the diversion from the Jordan River	2B, 3B, 3D, 4
Jordan River	Confluence with Little Cottonwood Creek to Narrows Diversion	2B, 3A, 4
Jordan River	Memory Park in Salt Lake City to City Creek Water Treatment Plant	1C, 2B, 3B, 4
City Creek	City Creek Water Treatment Plant to headwaters	2B, 3A
City Creek	1300 East in Salt Lake City to Mountain Dell Reservoir	1C, 2B, 3A
Parley's Creek	Moutain Dell Reservoir to headwaters	2B, 3A
Emigration Creek	Foothill Boulevard in Salt Lake City to headwaters	1C, 2B, 3A
Red Butte Creek	Red Butte Reservoir to headwaters	2B, 3A
Mill Creek	Confluence with Jordan River to I-15	1C, 2B, 3A
Mill Creek	I-15 to headwaters	2B, 3C, 4
Big Cottonwood Creek	Confluence with Jordan River to Big Cottonwood Water Treatment Plant	2B, 3A, 4
Deaf Smith Canyon Creek and Tributaries	Big Cottonwood Treatment Plant to headwaters	2B, 3A, 4
Little Cottonwood Creek	Entire	1C, 2B, 3A
Little Cottonwood Creek	Confluence with Jordan River to Metropolitan Water Treatment Plant	1C, 2B, 3A, 4
Bell Canyon Creek	Metropolitan Water Treatment Plant to headwaters	2B, 3A, 4
Little Willow Creek and Tributaries	Lower Bell's Canyon reservoir to headwaters	1C, 2B, 3A
Big Willow Creek and Tributaries	Draper Irrigation Company diversion to headwaters	1C, 2B, 3A
South Fork of Dry Creek and Tributaries	Draper Irrigation Company diversion to headwaters	1C, 2B, 3A
All permanent streams on east slope of Oquirrh Mountains	Entire	2B, 3D, 4
Kersey Creek	Confluence of C-7 Ditch to headwaters	2B, 3D

Beneficial Use Designation

Surface waters in the State of Utah are classified using the following beneficial use designations:

CLASS	CLASSIFICATION	DESCRIPTION
Class 1	1A	Reserved
Class 1	1B	Reserved
Class 1	1C	Protected for domestic purposes with prior treatment by treatment processes as required by the Utah Division of Drinking Water
Class 2	2A	Protected for primary contact recreation such as swimming.
Class 2	2B	Protected for secondary contact recreation such as boating, wading, or similar uses.
Class 3	3A	Protected for cold water species of game fish and other cold water aquatic life, including the necessary aquatic organisms in their food chain.
Class 3	3B	Protected for warm water species of game fish and other warm water aquatic life, including the necessary aquatic organisms in their food chain.
Class 3	3C	Protected for nongame fish and other aquatic life, included the necessary aquatic organisms in their food chain.
Class 3	3D	Protected for waterfowl, shore birds and other water-oriented wildlife not included in Classes 3A, 3B, or 3C, including the necessary aquatic organisms in their food chain.
Class 3	3E	Severely habitat-limited waters. Narrative standards will be applied to protect these waters for aquatic wildlife.
Class 4	4	Protected for agricultural uses including irrigation of crops and stock watering.
Class 5	5	The Great Salt Lake. Protected for primary and secondary contact recreation, aquatic wildlife, and mineral extraction.