Little Cottonwood River Flow Today
As of November 11, 2026 at 1:15 AM, the Little Cottonwood River is flowing at 4.2 cfs near Courtland, MN — 15% of normal for the date and down 31% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Little Cottonwood River map
See the Little Cottonwood River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
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Little Cottonwood River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Courtland, the Little Cottonwood River is running 4.2 cfs — 15% of normal, down 31% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 15% of normal).
How the Little Cottonwood River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Courtland810 ft 4.2 cfs15%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Little Cottonwood River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (15%).
Little Cottonwood River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Little Cottonwood River Near Courtland MN
Nov 11, 1:15 AM · USGS 05317200 |
4.2 cfs | 15% | -31% | 3.38 ft | 810 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Dams & reservoirs on the Little Cottonwood River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Little Cottonwood River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated earlier; the live gauge readings above are current).
Little Cottonwood River
The Little Cottonwood River is a tributary of the Minnesota River and stretches about 47 miles, running from the southwestern part of Blue Earth County to the eastern part of Brown County. Historically, the river was used by Native Americans for transportation and fishing. Today, it is used for a variety of recreational activities such as canoeing, fishing, and camping. It also provides irrigation for agricultural purposes. The river flows through a number of impoundments and reservoirs, including the Harkin's Slough Reservoir, the Swan Lake Reservoir, and the Little Cottonwood River Watershed Dam. These dams help regulate the water flow and are used for flood control purposes. Despite its importance, the Little Cottonwood River has faced challenges such as pollution and erosion. Efforts have been made to address these issues and protect the river for future generations.
Fishing near the Little Cottonwood River
About the Little Cottonwood River
How is the Little Cottonwood River flowing right now?
As of November 11, 2026, the Little Cottonwood River is flowing at 4.2 cfs near Courtland, MN, about 15% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Little Cottonwood River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Little Cottonwood River is at 15% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.