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Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake Water Level Today
As of , Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake's water level is 317.56 ft: 12.4 ft below full pool (330.0 ft) and 6.6 ft below normal for the date.
South Carolina (also Georgia) · Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · readings published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Water level today · November 14, 2026, 12:45 PM EST
6.6 ft below normal
for the date, below the range seen in 8 of 10 years
317.56 ft above sea level
- vs full pool
- −12.4 ft
- Past 7 days
- −0.5 ft
- vs 1 year ago
- −8.0 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, summer). 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.
- Operating zone / guide
- The seasonal levels the operator aims for. Many reservoirs are lowered on purpose in fall and winter to make room for spring rain.
Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake water level chart (last 2 years)
Over the last two years, Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake ranged from 317.6 ft on November 14, 2026 to 331.8 ft on May 16, 2025, and today it is 8.0 ft lower than on the same day last year.
How full is Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake right now?
Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake is 12.4 ft below full pool (330.0 ft).
Over the past 7 days the level fell 0.50 ft; over 30 days it fell 2.2 ft.
One year ago the lake stood at 325.6 ft, so it is −8.0 ft compared with the same day last year.
Is Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake above or below normal?
For November 14, the normal level is about 324.2 ft (the normal range is 318.0 ft to 330.8 ft). Today's level is −6.6 ft compared with normal, below normal.
“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.
Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake target level for this time of year
The operator's target level (top of conservation pool) for this date is 328.0 ft. The lake is −10.4 ft from that target.
Recent history
| Highest daily level (last 2 years) | 331.78 ft | May 16, 2025 |
| Lowest daily level (last 2 years) | 317.56 ft | November 14, 2026 |
| Same day last year | 325.56 ft | −8.0 ft vs today |
| Full pool | 330.00 ft | top of conservation pool, summer |
Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake record high and low
| Record high (daily level since 2005) | 335.97 ft | January 1, 2016 |
| Record low (daily level since 2005) | 313.54 ft | November 10, 2008 |
| About 5 years ago | 330.61 ft | October 20, 2021 |
Records cover the daily readings published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) from September 30, 2005 until October 19, 2026. Older extremes, before the gauge record starts, are not included.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the water level of Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake today?
- The latest reading is 317.56 ft above sea level, reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on November 14, 2026 at 12:45 PM EST.
- Is Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake full?
- No. Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake is 12.4 ft below its full pool of 330.0 ft.
- What is a normal water level for Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake at this time of year?
- Based on daily readings from 2006-2025, the typical (median) level for this date is 324.2 ft, and 8 out of 10 years fall between 318.0 ft and 330.8 ft.
- What is the full pool elevation of Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake?
- Full pool for Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake is 330.0 ft (top of conservation pool, summer), 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 331.8 ft on May 16, 2025; the lowest was 317.6 ft on November 14, 2026.
- What is the lowest water level ever recorded at Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake?
- In the official daily record since 2005, the lowest level of Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake was 313.5 ft on November 10, 2008.
- What is the highest water level ever recorded at Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake?
- In the official daily record since 2005, the highest level of Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake was 336.0 ft on January 1, 2016.
- How close is Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake to its record low?
- Today's level is 4.0 ft above the record low of 313.5 ft (November 10, 2008) and 18.4 ft below the record high of 336.0 ft (January 1, 2016).
Boating and fishing at Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake
Boat ramp access, park hours and fishing rules are set by the operator and can change with the water level. Official information for boating, fishing and parks: J. Strom Thurmond Lake (Corps Lakes Gateway) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers).
Where this data comes from
The water level is published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (station 02193900) 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.
Download the daily levels for Clarks Hill (Thurmond) Lake (CSV, last 2 years)