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GeorgiaReservoir, 71,100 acres, Columbia County, Lincoln County, McDuffie County, Wilkes County

J. Strom Thurmond Lake water level

J. Strom Thurmond Lake, Georgia
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Current level

318.84ft above sea level

Reading from Oct 26, 2026

Below normal for October

Water temperature 69°F

Past 24 hours
-0.10ft
Past 7 days
-0.56ft
Past 30 days
-2.02ft
vs typical October
-6.29ft

J. Strom Thurmond Lake was at 318.84 ft on October 26, falling 0.56 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 325.13 ft, so the lake is 6.29 ft below its usual mark. The gauge also reports a water temperature of 69°F.

Last 30 days

319.0320.0321.0Sep 25Oct 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.

320330JFMAMJJASOND

Recent daily readings

J. Strom Thurmond Lake daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft above sea level)Change
Oct 25, 2026318.94-0.16
Oct 24, 2026319.10-0.10
Oct 23, 2026319.20-0.07
Oct 22, 2026319.27-0.08
Oct 21, 2026319.35-0.05
Oct 20, 2026319.400.00
Oct 19, 2026319.40-0.13
Oct 18, 2026319.53-0.13
Oct 17, 2026319.66-0.10
Oct 16, 2026319.76+0.02
Oct 15, 2026319.74+0.02
Oct 14, 2026319.72+0.04
Oct 13, 2026319.68+0.04
Oct 12, 2026319.64-0.09

Reading these numbers

Readings are reservoir surface elevations in feet, as published by the U.S. Geological Survey. 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 15 miles from the center of the lake and is listed by USGS as Thurmond Lake near Plum Branch, SC. 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.

J. Strom Thurmond Lake water level questions

What is the water level at J. Strom Thurmond Lake today?

J. Strom Thurmond Lake was at 318.84 ft on October 26, falling 0.56 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 325.13 ft, so the lake is 6.29 ft below its usual mark. The gauge also reports a water temperature of 69°F.

Is J. Strom Thurmond 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 314.46 to 330.08 ft, with a typical value of 325.13 ft.

Is J. Strom Thurmond Lake rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has fallen (-0.56 ft), and it is -2.02 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the J. Strom Thurmond Lake water level data come from?

From the U.S. Geological Survey, gauge 02193900 (Thurmond Lake near Plum Branch, SC). 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 J. Strom Thurmond is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.