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VirginiaReservoir, 49,421 acres

John H. Kerr Reservoir water level

John H. Kerr Reservoir, Virginia
Photo: Bud Davis, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain

Current level

287.98ft NGVD29

Reading from Oct 26, 2026

Well below normal for October

Past 24 hours
-0.03ft
Past 7 days
-0.20ft
Past 30 days
-0.75ft
vs typical October
-10.27ft

John H. Kerr Reservoir was at 287.98 ft on October 26, falling 0.20 ft over the past week. That is well below normal for October: the typical October level is 298.25 ft, so the lake is 10.27 ft below its usual mark.

Last 30 days

287.5288.0288.5289.0Sep 24Oct 10Oct 25

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.

290300310JFMAMJJASOND

Recent daily readings

John H. Kerr Reservoir daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft NGVD29)Change
Oct 25, 2026288.01-0.03
Oct 24, 2026288.04-0.02
Oct 23, 2026288.06-0.04
Oct 22, 2026288.100.00
Oct 21, 2026288.10-0.03
Oct 20, 2026288.13-0.05
Oct 19, 2026288.18-0.08
Oct 18, 2026288.26-0.03
Oct 17, 2026288.29+0.06
Oct 16, 2026288.23+0.04
Oct 15, 2026288.19+0.07
Oct 14, 2026288.12+0.23
Oct 13, 2026287.89+0.12
Oct 12, 2026287.77-0.01

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 about 2 miles from the center of the lake and is listed by USGS as John H. Kerr Reservoir at Dam near Boydton, VA. 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.

John H. Kerr Reservoir water level questions

What is the water level at John H. Kerr Reservoir today?

John H. Kerr Reservoir was at 287.98 ft on October 26, falling 0.20 ft over the past week. That is well below normal for October: the typical October level is 298.25 ft, so the lake is 10.27 ft below its usual mark.

Is John H. Kerr Reservoir high or low right now?

Compared with the long-term record for October, the lake is well below normal. The October monthly average has ranged from 293.57 to 306.71 ft, with a typical value of 298.25 ft.

Is John H. Kerr Reservoir rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has fallen (-0.20 ft), and it is -0.75 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the John H. Kerr Reservoir water level data come from?

From the U.S. Geological Survey, gauge 02079490 (John H. Kerr Reservoir at Dam near Boydton, VA). USGS publishes provisional readings every 15 to 60 minutes; they can be revised later after quality checks.

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 USGS each time you open it.

Nearby lakes

If John H. Kerr is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.