MontanaReservoir, 4,113 acres
Nelson Reservoir water level
Current level
2,215.89ft above sea level
Reading from Oct 25, 2026
Below normal for October
- Past 24 hours
- -0.10ft
- Past 7 days
- -0.16ft
- Past 30 days
- -0.73ft
- vs typical October
- -0.90ft
Nelson Reservoir was at 2,215.89 ft on October 25, falling 0.16 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 2,216.79 ft, so the lake is 0.90 ft below its usual mark.
Last 30 days
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.
Recent daily readings
| Date | Level (ft above sea level) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 2026 | 2,215.89 | -0.10 |
| Oct 24, 2026 | 2,215.99 | +0.05 |
| Oct 23, 2026 | 2,215.94 | -0.02 |
| Oct 22, 2026 | 2,215.96 | -0.02 |
| Oct 21, 2026 | 2,215.98 | -0.02 |
| Oct 20, 2026 | 2,216.00 | -0.01 |
| Oct 19, 2026 | 2,216.01 | -0.04 |
| Oct 18, 2026 | 2,216.05 | -0.02 |
| Oct 17, 2026 | 2,216.07 | -0.02 |
| Oct 16, 2026 | 2,216.09 | -0.04 |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 2,216.13 | -0.02 |
| Oct 14, 2026 | 2,216.15 | -0.02 |
| Oct 13, 2026 | 2,216.17 | +0.03 |
| Oct 12, 2026 | 2,216.14 | -0.01 |
Reading these numbers
Readings are reservoir surface elevations in feet, as published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Compare them with ramp and dock elevations from the lake operator to judge whether a launch is usable.
Reservoir levels are managed. Operators lower them ahead of flood season, hold them for summer recreation, and draw them down for dam work. When the lake falls well below its usual level, shallow points and stumps start showing up in places that are normally safe.
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 3 miles from the center of the lake and is listed by USACE as Nelson Reservoir nr Saco, MT. 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.
Nelson Reservoir water level questions
What is the water level at Nelson Reservoir today?
Nelson Reservoir was at 2,215.89 ft on October 25, falling 0.16 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 2,216.79 ft, so the lake is 0.90 ft below its usual mark.
Is Nelson Reservoir 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 2,212.66 to 2,220.74 ft, with a typical value of 2,216.79 ft.
Is Nelson Reservoir rising or falling?
Over the last seven days the level has fallen (-0.16 ft), and it is -0.73 ft compared with 30 days ago.
Where does the Nelson Reservoir water level data come from?
From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reading at Nelson Reservoir nr Saco, MT. 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 Nelson is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.