Little Tallapoosa River

Last Updated: April 23, 2026

Total streamflow across the Little Tallapoosa River was last observed at 219 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 433 acre-ft of water today; about 12% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 1,765 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2015-12-25 when daily discharge volume was observed at 16,070 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Little Tallapoosa River Near Newell Al reporting a streamflow rate of 140 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Little Tallapoosa River Below Bowdon with a gauge stage of 2.74 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Little Tallapoosa River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 982 ft, the Little Tallapoosa River (Us 27) At Carrollton.

The Little Tallapoosa River is a tributary of the Tallapoosa River, located in Alabama and Georgia.


15-Day Long Term Forecast


River Details

Last Updated 2026-04-22
Discharge Volume 433 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 218.5 cfs
Past 24 Hours: -11.7 cfs (-5.08%)
Percent of Normal 12.38%
Maximum 16,070.0 cfs
2015-12-25
Seasonal Avg 1,765 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Little Tallapoosa River (Us 27) At Carrollton
USGS 02413000
20 cfs 2.12 ft -1.01
Little Tallapoosa River Below Bowdon
USGS 02413210
59 cfs 2.74 ft -11.31
Little Tallapoosa River Near Newell Al
USGS 02413300
140 cfs 2.16 ft -2.78
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

Little Tallapoosa River is a 97-mile-long (156 km) river in Georgia and Alabama, in the United States. It rises in northern Carroll County, Georgia near the city of Villa Rica and flows southwest into Alabama, joining the Tallapoosa River in Randolph County near the head of R.L. Harris Reservoir.
In May 2012, Aimee Copeland, a 24-year-old graduate student fell from a zip-line into the Little Tallapoosa River. She suffered a deep cut in her leg and contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacterial disease. She was forced to have her leg amputated a week after the accident.