Little River River Levels

Total streamflow across the Little River was last observed at 4,266 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 8,462 acre-ft of water today; about 18% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 24,211 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2016-03-13 when daily discharge volume was observed at 187,570 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Little River At Peel reporting a streamflow rate of 2,120 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Little River Nr Midway with a gauge stage of 68.72 ft. This river is monitored from 37 different streamgauging stations along the Little River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,839 ft, the Little River At Graysontown.

The river is 65 miles long and has a watershed of 341 square miles. It has a long history of providing water for agricultural and industrial purposes, including powering mills and factories in the 19th century. The river flows through the city of Durham, where it is impounded by the Little River Dam to create the Little River Reservoir, which provides drinking water for the city. The river is also used for recreational purposes, including fishing and kayaking, and supports a variety of aquatic life, including smallmouth bass and bluegill. In recent years, concerns have been raised about pollution and water quality issues in the river.