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Lake Hartwell Water Level Today
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 · September 28, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
Normal for the date
−6.9 ft from the typical level for this date
649.19 ft above sea level
- vs full pool
- −10.8 ft
- Past 7 days
- −0.2 ft
- vs 1 year ago
- −8.0 ft
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.
Lake Hartwell water level chart (last 2 years)
How full is Lake Hartwell right now?
Lake Hartwell is 10.8 ft below full pool (660.0 ft).
Over the past 7 days the level fell 0.20 ft; over 30 days it fell 1.6 ft.
One year ago the lake stood at 657.2 ft, so it is −8.0 ft compared with the same day last year.
Is Lake Hartwell above or below normal?
For September 28, the normal level is about 656.1 ft (the normal range is 648.6 ft to 660.1 ft). Today's level is −6.9 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.
Lake Hartwell target level for this time of year
The operator's target level (top of conservation pool) for this date is 660.0 ft. The lake is −10.8 ft from that target.
Recent history
| Highest daily level (last 2 years) | 660.48 ft | April 28, 2025 |
| Lowest daily level (last 2 years) | 649.19 ft | September 28, 2026 |
| Same day last year | 657.22 ft | −8.0 ft vs today |
| Full pool | 660.00 ft | top of conservation pool, summer |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the water level of Lake Hartwell today?
- The latest reading is 649.19 ft above sea level, reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on September 28, 2026 at 4:00 PM EDT.
- Is Lake Hartwell full?
- No. Lake Hartwell is 10.8 ft below its full pool of 660.0 ft.
- What is a normal water level for Lake Hartwell at this time of year?
- Based on daily readings from 2006-2025, the typical (median) level for this date is 656.1 ft, and 8 out of 10 years fall between 648.6 ft and 660.1 ft.
- What is the full pool elevation of Lake Hartwell?
- Full pool for Lake Hartwell is 660.0 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 660.5 ft on April 28, 2025; the lowest was 649.2 ft on September 28, 2026.
Where this data comes from
The water level is published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (station 02187010) 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.