Little Colorado River

Geographic Location and Tributaries
The Little Colorado River originates in the White Mountains of Arizona in two main tributories, the West Fork arising on the north flank of Mount Baldy and the East Fork, which join near the town of Greer, Arizona. The Little Colorado then flows into River Reservoir and passes just to the north of Springerville/Eager. Continuing northward, the Little Colorado is further impounded in the Lyman Lake Reservoir. Below the Lyman Dam, the river water is diverted into an irrigation system. The small amount of remaining water flows down the natural channel, past the former town of Salado, then north past and through St. Johns, the County Seat of Apache County, and on towards the northwest. In the Hunt Valley the River is joined by the Zuni River and then on west to where the Little Colorado River is joined by the Silver Creek at Woodruff, the on to near Holbrook, the County Seat of Navajo County. The River is further augmented and Puerco River.

The Little Colorado River continues northwest across a portion of the Navajo Nation and then finally enters a deep canyon near Cameron, Arizona. The River eventually empties into the Colorado River at the eastern end of the Grand Canyon, north of Cameron, Arizona.

USGS Little Colorado River

Early Exploration
On old maps, the Little Colorado River is referred to as the Flax River. The southern portions of the river were known as the Zuni River and the upper or northern branches were called the Rio Puerco of the West.

Development Along the River
The headwaters of the Little Colorado River are in the White Mountains, near the community of Greer, Arizona on the north side of Mount Baldy, the second highest mountain in Arizona. The River then runs north and east into Round Valley where the communities of Eager and Springerville are located.

Dams and Power Generation
Lyman Dam was constructed 17 miles north of Springerville, Arizona.