Water level
59.02ft NGVD29
+0.30 ft in 7 daysOct 11Oct 18Oct 25
Sep 25Oct 10Oct 25
Reading from Oct 26, 2026.
Pactola Reservoir was at 59.02 ft on October 26, rising 0.30 ft over the past week.
South DakotaReservoir, 841 acres, Pennington County
Pactola Reservoir conditions today
Right now on Pactola
loading
Best window
0pm to 0pm
score
Wind
00kt
Gusts 00
Direction
NE
Blowing from
Air temp
00°F
High
Rain
Dry%
next 6 hours
Water level
59.02ft
Up 0.30 ft this week
Sailing
CheckingReading the forecast
Kayak and SUP
CheckingReading the forecast
Power boating
CheckingReading the forecast
Fishing
CheckingReading the forecast
Hour by hour
Next 24 hours
Wind and gusts0 to 30+ ktScoreGood, caution, stay ashoreNightBest windowArrows point where the wind blows to.
Outlook. Monday: SE wind 2 to 4 kt, gusts to 12 kt, high near 39°F, 64% chance of rain. Tuesday: WSW wind 1 to 13 kt, gusts to 33 kt, high near 59°F.
7-day wind forecastLive radar
Loads when you scroll here
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LightHeavy
Last hour of NOAA MRMS radar, 1 km resolution. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenMapTiles, OpenFreeMap.
Lake facts
- Type
- Reservoir
- State
- South Dakota
- County
- Pennington County
- Surface area
- 841 acres
- Operator
- United States Bureau of Reclamation
- USGS gauge
- 06411000, Pactola Reservoir near Silver City SD
- Coordinates
- 44.0730° N, 103.4930° W
Background reading: Pactola Reservoir on Wikipedia
About Pactola Reservoir
Pactola Reservoir is a 841-acre reservoir in Pennington County, South Dakota. It is managed by United States Bureau of Reclamation.
Water level on this page comes from USGS gauge 06411000 (Pactola Reservoir near Silver City SD). Wind, gusts and rain come from the National Weather Service forecast grid that covers the water.
On water this size, waves stay small even on windy days. The catch is gusts: shoreline terrain funnels the wind into sharp puffs that catch out small boats and paddlers. Reservoir levels move with releases and inflow, so ramps and beaches can change week to week. The water level page tracks that day by day.
The go or no-go calls above are a starting point, not a guarantee. Read how we score conditions, and always check local rules and posted warnings before you launch.
Pactola Reservoir questions
Is it windy on Pactola Reservoir today?
The National Weather Service forecast for the lake from October 26: Monday: SE wind 2 to 4 kt, gusts to 12 kt, high near 39°F, 64% chance of rain. The panel at the top of this page refreshes the current wind, gusts and direction when you open it and turns them into a call for sailing, paddling, power boating and fishing.
What is the water level at Pactola Reservoir right now?
Pactola Reservoir was at 59.02 ft on October 26, rising 0.30 ft over the past week.
How big is Pactola Reservoir?
Pactola Reservoir covers about 841 acres (1.3 square miles) of surface water.
Who manages Pactola Reservoir?
Pactola Reservoir is operated by United States Bureau of Reclamation. Boating rules, closures and ramp hours come from the operator and the state wildlife agency.
Nearby lakes
If Pactola is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their conditions.
- Deerfield ReservoirReservoir, 328 ac, South Dakota16 mi
- Belle Fourche ReservoirReservoir, 6,106 ac, South Dakota47 mi
- Angostura ReservoirReservoir, 4,753 ac, South Dakota53 mi
- Keyhole ReservoirReservoir, 8,862 ac, Wyoming67 mi
- Box Butte ReservoirReservoir, 1,263 ac, Nebraska113 mi
- Shadehill ReservoirReservoir, 3,801 ac, South Dakota130 mi