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Total streamflow across the
Little Lost River
was last observed at
143
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
283
acre-ft of water today; about 103%
of normal.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
139 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2019-06-15 when daily discharge volume was observed at
393 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Little Lost River Nr Howe Id
reporting a streamflow rate of 81.9 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Little Lost River, with a gauge stage of
3.1 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Little Lost River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 5,878 ft, the
Little Lost River Bl Wet Creek Nr Howe Id.
| Last Updated | 2025-05-02 |
| Discharge Volume | 283 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
142.9 cfs
+2.5 cfs (+1.78%) |
| Percent of Normal | 103.16% |
| Maximum |
393.0 cfs
2019-06-15 |
| Seasonal Avg | 139 cfs |
The Little Lost River is a river in the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho. The river is about 49 miles (79 km) long and drains an arid farming valley, the Little Lost River Valley, bordered by the Lost River Range on the west and Lemhi Range on the east. Instead of emptying into a larger body of water, it disappears into the ground at the edge of the Snake River Plain, a phenomenon that gives it its name. The water feeds into the Snake River Aquifer, eventually reaching the Snake River through a series of springs farther west.
It rises at the confluence of two similarly sized streams, Summit Creek and Sawmill Creek, 10 miles (16 km) north of Hawley Mountain, in the middle of the Little Lost River Valley. The river flows generally south-southeast receiving many tributaries such as Wet (the largest), Badger, Deer, Uncle Ike, Sands, Cedarville, South, and Hurst creeks. Along its course the Little Lost is used for irrigation, but the only settlement of any size is Howe, situated near the mouth. A few miles past Howe, the river disappears into the earth at about 4,806 feet (1,465 m) above sea level.
The river drains about 963 square miles (2,490 km2) of land entirely in Butte County. Its valley is about 50 miles (80 km) long and 20 miles (32 km) wide, with a floor width of 7 miles (11 km). Precipitation is generally very low and mostly in the form of snow.
