Skip to content
lakeglance

MichiganNatural lake, 2,013 acres, Otsego County

Otsego Lake water level

Otsego Lake, Michigan
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0

Current level

1,273.29ft NAVD88

Reading from Oct 26, 2026

Past 24 hours
+0.02ft
Past 7 days
-0.01ft
Past 30 days
-0.02ft
Trend
Steady

Otsego Lake was at 1,273.29 ft on October 26, holding steady over the past week (-0.01 ft).

Last 30 days

1273.01273.21273.41273.6Sep 25Oct 10Oct 25

Recent daily readings

Otsego Lake daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft NAVD88)Change
Oct 25, 20261,273.270.00
Oct 24, 20261,273.27-0.01
Oct 23, 20261,273.28-0.01
Oct 22, 20261,273.290.00
Oct 21, 20261,273.290.00
Oct 20, 20261,273.29-0.01
Oct 19, 20261,273.30+0.01
Oct 18, 20261,273.29-0.03
Oct 17, 20261,273.32-0.04
Oct 16, 20261,273.36+0.05
Oct 15, 20261,273.31-0.01
Oct 14, 20261,273.32+0.01
Oct 13, 20261,273.31+0.06
Oct 12, 20261,273.25+0.01

Reading these numbers

Readings are elevations in feet above the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88), the current national reference. Older dam documents often quote NGVD29 instead, which can differ by a few feet. See NGVD29 vs NAVD88.

Natural lake levels usually move slowly, following rain, snowmelt and evaporation. A rise after a wet week can flood low docks and beaches, while late-summer lows expose rocks and weed beds near shore.

The gauge is about 1 miles from the center of the lake and is listed by USGS as Otsego Lake near Gaylord, MI. 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.

Otsego Lake water level questions

What is the water level at Otsego Lake today?

Otsego Lake was at 1,273.29 ft on October 26, holding steady over the past week (-0.01 ft).

Is Otsego Lake rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has held roughly steady (-0.01 ft), and it is -0.02 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the Otsego Lake water level data come from?

From the U.S. Geological Survey, gauge 445512084415301 (Otsego Lake near Gaylord, MI). 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 Otsego is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.