Abert Rim and Winter Ridge geologically contain Alkali Lake, and are the primary sources of groundwater inflow into the basin.
Alkali Lake takes on characteristics of a saline desert playa during warm, hot seasons.
Twenty five thousand 55-gallon drums of Agent Orange waste were stored, then subsequently crushed and buried at the site in 1976. The main herbicide contaminants of concern are chlorophenol and chlorophenoxyphenol. The water table is close to the ground surface, so the contaminants are in contact with the groundwater. Compare differences in water quality between a saline desert lake and a fresh water lake such as Croft Lake. Compare the differences in dune structure between the coastal dunes at Croft Lake and the desert dunes at Alkali Lake.