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South DakotaReservoir, 32,124 acres

Lewis and Clark Lake water level

Lewis and Clark Lake, South Dakota
Photo: Jake DeGroot, CC BY-SA 3.0

Current level

1,207.84ft NGVD29

Reading from Oct 26, 2026

Above normal for October

Past 24 hours
-0.02ft
Past 7 days
-0.12ft
Past 30 days
+0.03ft
vs typical October
+0.18ft

Lewis and Clark Lake was at 1,207.84 ft on October 26, falling 0.12 ft over the past week. That is above normal for October: the typical October level is 1,207.66 ft, so the lake is 0.18 ft above its usual mark.

Last 30 days

1207.51208.0typicalSep 26Oct 11Oct 26

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.

1206.01207.01208.0JFMAMJJASOND

Recent daily readings

Lewis and Clark Lake daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft NGVD29)Change
Oct 26, 20261,207.84-0.02
Oct 25, 20261,207.86-0.07
Oct 24, 20261,207.93+0.04
Oct 23, 20261,207.89+0.04
Oct 22, 20261,207.85-0.06
Oct 21, 20261,207.91-0.08
Oct 20, 20261,207.99+0.03
Oct 19, 20261,207.96+0.06
Oct 18, 20261,207.90-0.03
Oct 17, 20261,207.93-0.07
Oct 16, 20261,208.00+0.37
Oct 15, 20261,207.63+0.07
Oct 14, 20261,207.56+0.04
Oct 13, 20261,207.52+0.01

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.

On a reservoir, a few feet of drop changes the shoreline more than you would think. Low water exposes stumps, sandbars and old roadbeds that are normally well under the hull, and some ramps end before the water does.

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 listed by USACE as Gavins Point Dam & Reservoir. 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.

Lewis and Clark Lake water level questions

What is the water level at Lewis and Clark Lake today?

Lewis and Clark Lake was at 1,207.84 ft on October 26, falling 0.12 ft over the past week. That is above normal for October: the typical October level is 1,207.66 ft, so the lake is 0.18 ft above its usual mark.

Is Lewis and Clark Lake high or low right now?

Compared with the long-term record for October, the lake is above normal. The October monthly average has ranged from 1,206.57 to 1,208.07 ft, with a typical value of 1,207.66 ft.

Is Lewis and Clark Lake rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has fallen (-0.12 ft), and it is +0.03 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the Lewis and Clark Lake water level data come from?

From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reading at Gavins Point Dam & Reservoir. The Corps reports pool elevation, usually every hour, and early values can be revised after review.

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 Corps of Engineers each time you open it.

Nearby lakes

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