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lakeglance

LouisianaNatural lake, 454,427 acres

Lake Pontchartrain water level

Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana
Photo: Mersh13, CC BY-SA 3.0

Current level

1.35ft NAVD88

Reading from Oct 26, 2026

Well above normal for October

Past 24 hours
+0.23ft
Past 7 days
+0.17ft
Past 30 days
+0.46ft
vs typical October
+0.27ft

Lake Pontchartrain was at 1.35 ft on October 26, rising 0.17 ft over the past week. That is well above normal for October: the typical October level is 1.08 ft, so the lake is 0.27 ft above its usual mark.

Last 30 days

1.02.0typicalSep 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.

0.01.0JFMAMJJASOND

Recent daily readings

Lake Pontchartrain daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft NAVD88)Change
Oct 24, 20261.12+0.23
Oct 23, 20260.89+0.06
Oct 22, 20260.83-0.14
Oct 21, 20260.97-0.11
Oct 20, 20261.08-0.10
Oct 19, 20261.18+0.13
Oct 18, 20261.05+0.48
Oct 17, 20260.57-0.24
Oct 16, 20260.81+0.19
Oct 15, 20260.62-0.01
Oct 14, 20260.63-0.03
Oct 13, 20260.66-0.12
Oct 12, 20260.78-0.59
Oct 11, 20261.37-0.75

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.

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 L Pontchartrain at Crossover 4 near Mandeville, LA. 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 Pontchartrain water level questions

What is the water level at Lake Pontchartrain today?

Lake Pontchartrain was at 1.35 ft on October 26, rising 0.17 ft over the past week. That is well above normal for October: the typical October level is 1.08 ft, so the lake is 0.27 ft above its usual mark.

Is Lake Pontchartrain high or low right now?

Compared with the long-term record for October, the lake is well above normal. The October monthly average has ranged from 0.59 to 1.46 ft, with a typical value of 1.08 ft.

Is Lake Pontchartrain rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has risen (+0.17 ft), and it is +0.46 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the Lake Pontchartrain water level data come from?

From the U.S. Geological Survey, gauge 301200090072400 (L Pontchartrain at Crossover 4 near Mandeville, LA). 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 Pontchartrain is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.