[2] Little Salt Lake originally was a seasonal, shallow, brackish sink fed by springs, Fremont Wash and streams emerging from the Hurricane Cliffs in the Parowan Valley.

Local Native American people lived in the vicinity of the lake, who called it "Paragoon," which meant "vile water."

Long ago a creek drained the lake westward through the Parowan Gap in the Red Hills.

Its original Piute name with some alteration was given to the valley and the towns of Paragonah and Parowan.

[3] Diversion of water from creeks and springs for irrigation of crops has ended Little Salt Lake as a seasonal wetland, reducing it to an arid playa.