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GeorgiaReservoir, 24,607 acres, Elbert County

Richard B Russell Lake water level

Richard B Russell Lake, Georgia
Photo: Jonas N. Jordan, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain

Current level

473.75ft above sea level

Reading from Oct 26, 2026

Below normal for October

Past 24 hours
-0.03ft
Past 7 days
+0.39ft
Past 30 days
+0.97ft
vs typical October
-0.32ft

Richard B Russell Lake was at 473.75 ft on October 26, rising 0.39 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 474.07 ft, so the lake is 0.32 ft below its usual mark.

Last 30 days

460465470475typicalSep 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.

472474476478JFMAMJJASOND

Recent daily readings

Richard B Russell Lake daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft above sea level)Change
Oct 26, 2026473.75-0.03
Oct 25, 2026473.78-0.02
Oct 24, 2026473.80-0.08
Oct 23, 2026473.88+0.16
Oct 22, 2026473.72+0.18
Oct 21, 2026473.54-0.05
Oct 20, 2026473.59+0.23
Oct 19, 2026473.36+0.05
Oct 18, 2026473.31-0.03
Oct 17, 2026473.34-0.04
Oct 16, 2026473.38+12.45
Oct 15, 2026460.93-12.40
Oct 14, 2026473.33+0.12
Oct 13, 2026473.21+0.09

Reading these numbers

Readings are reservoir surface elevations in feet, as published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Compare them with ramp and dock elevations from the lake operator to judge whether a launch is usable.

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 2 miles from the center of the lake and is listed by USACE as Richard B. Russell Dam. 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.

Richard B Russell Lake water level questions

What is the water level at Richard B Russell Lake today?

Richard B Russell Lake was at 473.75 ft on October 26, rising 0.39 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 474.07 ft, so the lake is 0.32 ft below its usual mark.

Is Richard B Russell Lake 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 473.18 to 475.32 ft, with a typical value of 474.07 ft.

Is Richard B Russell Lake rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has risen (+0.39 ft), and it is +0.97 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the Richard B Russell Lake water level data come from?

From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reading at Richard B Russell Dam. 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 Richard B Russell is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.