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lakeglance

CaliforniaNatural lake, 690 acres, Nevada County

Independence Lake water level

Independence Lake, California
Photo: California Department of Fish and Wildlife from Sacramento, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0

Current level

6,945.49ft NGVD29

Reading from Oct 26, 2026

Near normal for October

Past 24 hours
-0.01ft
Past 7 days
-0.05ft
Past 30 days
-0.88ft
vs typical October
-0.13ft

Independence Lake was at 6,945.49 ft on October 26, holding steady over the past week (-0.05 ft). That is near normal for October: the typical October level is 6,945.62 ft, so the lake is 0.13 ft below its usual mark.

Last 30 days

6945.56946.06946.5typicalSep 24Oct 9Oct 24

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.

685069006950JFMAMJJASOND

Recent daily readings

Independence Lake daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft NGVD29)Change
Oct 24, 20266,945.50-0.01
Oct 23, 20266,945.51-0.02
Oct 22, 20266,945.53-0.02
Oct 21, 20266,945.55+0.03
Oct 20, 20266,945.52-0.02
Oct 19, 20266,945.54-0.06
Oct 18, 20266,945.60-0.07
Oct 17, 20266,945.67-0.06
Oct 16, 20266,945.73-0.04
Oct 15, 20266,945.77-0.02
Oct 14, 20266,945.79-0.02
Oct 13, 20266,945.81-0.02
Oct 12, 20266,945.83-0.03
Oct 11, 20266,945.86-0.02

Reading these numbers

Readings are elevations in feet above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD29), the reference most older dam and lake charts use. If you compare with a newer chart in NAVD88, expect a difference of a few feet. Our glossary explains NGVD29 vs NAVD88.

Natural lake levels usually move slowly, following rain, snowmelt and evaporation. A rise after a wet week can flood low docks and beaches, while late-summer lows expose rocks and weed beds near shore.

The gauge is about 1 miles from the center of the lake and is listed by USGS as Independence Lake near Truckee CA. 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.

Independence Lake water level questions

What is the water level at Independence Lake today?

Independence Lake was at 6,945.49 ft on October 26, holding steady over the past week (-0.05 ft). That is near normal for October: the typical October level is 6,945.62 ft, so the lake is 0.13 ft below its usual mark.

Is Independence Lake high or low right now?

Compared with the long-term record for October, the lake is near normal. The October monthly average has ranged from 6,934.48 to 6,947.32 ft, with a typical value of 6,945.62 ft.

Is Independence Lake rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has held roughly steady (-0.05 ft), and it is -0.88 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the Independence Lake water level data come from?

From the U.S. Geological Survey, gauge 10342900 (Independence Lake near Truckee CA). 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 Independence is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.