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lakeglance

South CarolinaReservoir, 33,596 acres

Lake Hartwell water level

Lake Hartwell, South Carolina
Photo: blahedo, CC BY-SA 2.5

Current level

648.33ft NAVD88

Reading from Oct 26, 2026

Below normal for October

Past 24 hours
+0.05ft
Past 7 days
-0.65ft
Past 30 days
-0.91ft
vs typical October
-7.42ft

Lake Hartwell was at 648.33 ft on October 26, falling 0.65 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 655.75 ft, so the lake is 7.42 ft below its usual mark.

Last 30 days

648.0648.5649.0649.5Sep 25Oct 10Oct 25

Shaded band shows the lowest and highest October monthly averages on record. Dashed line is the typical October level.

Typical level through the year

Each bar spans the range of monthly averages on record for that month. The line marks the median. The orange dot is where the lake sits now.

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Recent daily readings

Lake Hartwell daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft NAVD88)Change
Oct 25, 2026648.28+0.01
Oct 24, 2026648.27-0.04
Oct 23, 2026648.31-0.13
Oct 22, 2026648.44-0.16
Oct 21, 2026648.60-0.17
Oct 20, 2026648.77-0.21
Oct 19, 2026648.98-0.11
Oct 18, 2026649.09+0.01
Oct 17, 2026649.08+0.06
Oct 16, 2026649.02-0.08
Oct 15, 2026649.10-0.12
Oct 14, 2026649.22-0.08
Oct 13, 2026649.30-0.11
Oct 12, 2026649.41+0.08

Reading these numbers

Readings are elevations in feet above the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88), the current national reference. Older dam documents often quote NGVD29 instead, which can differ by a few feet. See NGVD29 vs NAVD88.

Reservoir levels are managed. Operators lower them ahead of flood season, hold them for summer recreation, and draw them down for dam work. When the lake falls well below its usual level, shallow points and stumps start showing up in places that are normally safe.

High water brings its own problems: floating debris after storms, flooded docks and courtesy piers, and no-wake rules near flooded campgrounds. A quick look at the trend before you hitch up saves a wasted trip.

The gauge is about 3 miles from the center of the lake and is listed by USGS as Hartwell Lake near Anderson, SC. Wind can pile water up at one end of a big lake for a few hours, so short spikes on a windy day are normal.

Lake Hartwell water level questions

What is the water level at Lake Hartwell today?

Lake Hartwell was at 648.33 ft on October 26, falling 0.65 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 655.75 ft, so the lake is 7.42 ft below its usual mark.

Is Lake Hartwell high or low right now?

Compared with the long-term record for October, the lake is below normal. The October monthly average has ranged from 642.87 to 661.02 ft, with a typical value of 655.75 ft.

Is Lake Hartwell rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has fallen (-0.65 ft), and it is -0.91 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the Lake Hartwell water level data come from?

From the U.S. Geological Survey, gauge 02187010 (Hartwell Lake near Anderson, SC). USGS publishes provisional readings every 15 to 60 minutes; they can be revised later after quality checks.

How often is this page updated?

The page itself is rebuilt every day with the latest daily values, and the current reading refreshes straight from the USGS each time you open it.

Nearby lakes

If Hartwell is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.