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lakeglance

CaliforniaReservoir, 2,813 acres

Black Butte Lake water level

Black Butte Lake, California
Photo: Michael Nevins, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain

Current level

435.72ft NGVD29

Reading from Oct 26, 2026

Below normal for October

Past 24 hours
+0.41ft
Past 7 days
+2.07ft
Past 30 days
-3.13ft
vs typical October
-4.17ft

Black Butte Lake was at 435.72 ft on October 26, rising 2.07 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 439.89 ft, so the lake is 4.17 ft below its usual mark.

Last 30 days

433435438440typicalSep 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.

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Recent daily readings

Black Butte Lake daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft NGVD29)Change
Oct 26, 2026435.64+0.33
Oct 25, 2026435.31+0.54
Oct 24, 2026434.77+0.47
Oct 23, 2026434.30+0.36
Oct 22, 2026433.94+0.19
Oct 21, 2026433.75+0.03
Oct 20, 2026433.72+0.07
Oct 19, 2026433.65+0.43
Oct 18, 2026433.22+0.47
Oct 17, 2026432.75+0.32
Oct 16, 2026432.43-0.17
Oct 15, 2026432.60-0.41
Oct 14, 2026433.01-0.56
Oct 13, 2026433.57-0.49

Reading these numbers

Readings are elevations in feet above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD29), the reference most older dam and lake charts use. If you compare with a newer chart in NAVD88, expect a difference of a few feet. Our glossary explains NGVD29 vs NAVD88.

On a reservoir, a few feet of drop changes the shoreline more than you would think. Low water exposes stumps, sandbars and old roadbeds that are normally well under the hull, and some ramps end before the water does.

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 listed by USACE as Black Butte Lk-Pool. 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.

Black Butte Lake water level questions

What is the water level at Black Butte Lake today?

Black Butte Lake was at 435.72 ft on October 26, rising 2.07 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 439.89 ft, so the lake is 4.17 ft below its usual mark.

Is Black Butte 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 432.20 to 447.81 ft, with a typical value of 439.89 ft.

Is Black Butte Lake rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has risen (+2.07 ft), and it is -3.13 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the Black Butte Lake water level data come from?

From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reading at Black Butte Lk Pool. 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 Black Butte is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.