LITTLE COLORADO RIVER

34.98, -110.62
Last Updated: December 6, 2024

TOTAL DISCHARGE (CFS)

Total streamflow across the Little Colorado River was last observed at 228 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 453 acre-ft of water today; about 36% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 636 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2023-03-24 when daily discharge volume was observed at 18,255 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Little Colorado River Near Joseph City reporting a streamflow rate of 728 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Little Colorado River Near Winslow with a gauge stage of 10.57 ft. This river is monitored from 8 different streamgauging stations along the Little Colorado River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 8,296 ft, the Little Colorado River At Greer.

The Little Colorado River is a tributary of the Colorado River that flows through Arizona and New Mexico. Its length is approximately 338 miles and it has a drainage area of 22,500 square miles. The river was historically used by Native American tribes for irrigation and as a source of water. Today, it is utilized for recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, and camping. The river's hydrology has been impacted by the construction of several reservoirs and dams, including the Glen Canyon Dam which created Lake Powell. These structures have had both positive and negative effects on the river's ecology and surrounding communities. The Little Colorado River is also used for agricultural purposes, with some farmers utilizing its water for irrigation.

Last Updated 2024-12-05
Discharge Volume 453 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 228.14 cfs
-1.26 cfs (-0.55%)
Percent of Normal 35.86%
Maximum 18,255.0 cfs
2023-03-24
Seasonal Avg 636 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Little Colorado River At Greer
USGS 09383400
5 cfs 1.18 ft 143.78
Little Colorado River Ab Zion Res Nr St. Johns
USGS 09386030
0 cfs 0.69 ft None
Little Colorado River At Woodruff
USGS 09394500
0 cfs 4.82 ft 0
Little Colorado River At Holbrook
USGS 09397000
73 cfs 4.17 ft 15.56
Little Colorado River Near Joseph City
USGS 09397300
728 cfs 1.47 ft -62.86
Little Colorado River Near Winslow
USGS 09400350
9 cfs 10.57 ft -9.63
Little Colorado River Near Cameron
USGS 09402000
0 cfs 1.65 ft None
Little Colorado River Abv Mouth Nr Desert View
USGS 09402300
215 cfs 5.23 ft -1.38
History of the River

The Little Colorado River (Hopi: Paayu) is a tributary of the Colorado River in the U.S. state of Arizona, providing the principal drainage from the Painted Desert region. Together with its major tributary, the Puerco River, it drains an area of about 26,500 square miles (69,000 km2) in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico. Although it stretches almost 340 miles (550 km), only the headwaters and the lowermost reaches flow year-round. Between St. Johns and Cameron, most of the river is a wide, braided wash, only containing water after heavy snowmelt or flash flooding.
The lower 57.2 miles (92.1 km) is known as the Little Colorado River Gorge and forms one of the largest arms of the Grand Canyon, at over 3,000 feet (910 m) deep where it joins the Colorado near Desert View in Grand Canyon National Park.

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