The Little Colorado River has two colors. It is either a beautiful aquamarine blue or it is muddy. This photo depicts its muddy phase. As you follow the current of the LCR down to its confluence with the Colorado River you can see the extreme difference between the muddy water of the LCR and the clear, emerald green water of the Colorado. There is a distinct demarcation between the muddy and clear waters. However, as you look downstream, beyond the first bend in the joined rivers, the waters have already mixed due to the turbulence of the riffle below the confluence. From here on downstream, if the LCR is muddy, the Colorado river will be roily, too.
Historically, the local Native Americans used the LCR as a trail to access a deposit of salt along the bank of the Colorado River just below the confluence of the LCR on river left. The salt deposit still exists but visitation by non-natives is prohibited.
You can view this and other Grand Canyon panoramas, with maps and more detailed descriptions, at GCPano.org. This panorama can be viewed directly at url:
https://project.gcpano.org/?enterAt=PalisadesEscalante.trl_Confluence.pan
GCPano.org