Little Colorado River

Streamflow, conditions and background by watershed segment. Data through November 1, 2026.

Where it is

Segments are the HUC8 watersheds the gauges sit in, numbered upstream to downstream. Use the buttons to switch between the state and the river.

Map of the Little Colorado River in New MexicoNew Mexico, with the Little Colorado River's 2 watershed segments shaded and numbered upstream to downstream, the river and its gauges.Beaver CreekCanadian RiverChaco RiverEast Fork Gila RiverGila RiverMimbres RiverPecos RiverRio ChamaRio GrandeRio HondoRio PuercoRio SaladoRio San JoseSalt CreekSan Francisco RiverSan Juan River2. Upper Little Colorado (HUC 15020002)1. Little Colorado Headwaters (HUC 15020001)Little Colorado RiverAlbuquerqueSanta FeLas CrucesRoswellFarmingtonLittle Colorado River2. Upper Little Colorado (HUC 15020002)1. Little Colorado Headwaters (HUC 15020001)Big Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashBig Hollow WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashSilver CreekPuerco RiverPuerco RiverMilky WashCottonwood WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashMilky WashNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekCoyote CreekCoyote CreekCoyote CreekCoyote CreekNutrioso CreekCoyote CreekCoyote CreekCoyote CreekCoyote CreekCoyote CreekCoyote CreekCoyote CreekCoyote CreekCoyote CreekNutrioso CreekNutrioso CreekLittle Colorado RiverZion ReservoirLyman LakeRiver ReservoirLyman LakeLITTLE COLORADO R AT WENIMA, NR SPRINGERVILLE, AZ (Little Colorado Headwaters)LITTLE COLORADO RIVER AT SPRINGERVILLE, AZ (Little Colorado Headwaters)LITTLE COLORADO R ABV LYMAN LAKE NR ST. JOHNS, AZ (Little Colorado Headwaters)LITTLE COLORADO RIVER AT GREER, AZ (Little Colorado Headwaters)LITTLE COLORADO RVR ABV ZION RES. NR ST. JOHNS, AZ (Upper Little Colorado)LITTLE COLORADO RVR BLW ZION RES. NR ST JOHNS, AZ (Upper Little Colorado)LITTLE COLORADO RIVER BELOW SALADO SPRINGS, AZ (Upper Little Colorado)21
  • 1Little Colorado Headwaters
  • 2Upper Little Colorado
  • river and reservoirs
  • gauge

About the Little Colorado River

This report follows 147 miles (236 km) of the Little Colorado River across 2 watershed segments, from Little Colorado Headwaters downstream to Upper Little Colorado. At the lower end of the report the river drains about 10,430 square miles. Named tributaries joining it here include the Puerco River, Silver Creek, Coyote Creek, Nutrioso Creek and Big Hollow Wash. Reservoirs on this reach: Lyman Lake, Zion Reservoir and River Reservoir. 7 gauges with at least 26 weeks of daily flow cover 1940 to 2026.

From the archive: NHDPlus river network, WBD watersheds, NHD waterbodies, TIGER urban areas and the report's gauges.

From the headwaters down

Each watershed segment in order, with last week's flow rated against the same week in 1991–2020.

  1. Little Colorado Headwaters

    37 cfs last week much above normal, 60 dry days this year.

    Median conductance 340 µS/cm in the 2020s. Rain over the last 3 months: 168% of normal.

  2. Upper Little Colorado

    1 cfs last week normal, 288 dry days this year.

    Median conductance 1,936 µS/cm in the 2010s.

Reservoirs

ReservoirCompletedMain purposeStorage, acre-ft
Lyman Dam1912Irrigation44,500
Udall1910Debris Control5,000
River Reservoir #31896Irrigation3,195
Bunch Reservoir1929Irrigation512

From the archive: National Inventory of Dams (USACE) and the reservoir registry.

Sources

Numbered sources for the statements above, as they were read when the page was prepared.