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Lake Sakakawea Water Level Today
North Dakota · Official data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Water level today · September 28, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT
Normal for the date
−15.0 ft from the typical level for this date
1,824.41 ft above sea level
- vs full pool
- −13.1 ft
- Past 7 days
- +0.1 ft
- vs 1 year ago
- −7.5 ft
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What do these numbers mean?
- Water level
- The height of the lake surface in feet above sea level, as measured by the official gauge.
- Full pool
- The level the lake is normally kept at when it is full (top of conservation pool). Above it, the lake is storing flood water.
- Normal for the date
- The typical (median) level on this calendar date across 2006-2025. The normal range is where the lake stood in 8 of 10 years.
Lake Sakakawea water level chart (last 2 years)
How full is Lake Sakakawea right now?
Lake Sakakawea is 13.1 ft below full pool (1,837.5 ft).
Over the past 7 days the level rose 0.11 ft; over 30 days it fell 1.1 ft.
One year ago the lake stood at 1,831.9 ft, so it is −7.5 ft compared with the same day last year.
Is Lake Sakakawea above or below normal?
For September 28, the normal level is about 1,839.4 ft (the normal range is 1,815.1 ft to 1,845.3 ft). Today's level is −15.0 ft compared with normal, within the normal range.
“Normal” here means the median level recorded on this calendar date across 2006-2025. Many reservoirs are drawn down on purpose in fall and winter, so a level below full pool can still be completely normal for the season.
Recent history
| Highest daily level (last 2 years) | 1,839.12 ft | September 30, 2024 |
| Lowest daily level (last 2 years) | 1,824.18 ft | September 22, 2026 |
| Same day last year | 1,831.87 ft | −7.5 ft vs today |
| Full pool | 1,837.50 ft | top of conservation pool |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the water level of Lake Sakakawea today?
- The latest reading is 1,824.41 ft above sea level, reported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on September 28, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT.
- Is Lake Sakakawea full?
- No. Lake Sakakawea is 13.1 ft below its full pool of 1,837.5 ft.
- What is a normal water level for Lake Sakakawea at this time of year?
- Based on daily readings from 2006-2025, the typical (median) level for this date is 1,839.4 ft, and 8 out of 10 years fall between 1,815.1 ft and 1,845.3 ft.
- What is the full pool elevation of Lake Sakakawea?
- Full pool for Lake Sakakawea is 1,837.5 ft (top of conservation pool), according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- What were the highest and lowest levels in the last two years?
- The highest daily level in the last two years was 1,839.1 ft on September 30, 2024; the lowest was 1,824.2 ft on September 22, 2026.
Where this data comes from
The water level is published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (station GARR) and refreshed on this page every day. Full pool comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the normal range is calculated from official daily readings for 2006-2025. Recent readings are provisional and may be revised. See data sources & methodology.