Lake Powell Water Level Chart
This chart tracks Lake Powell's elevation over the past year using official daily readings from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The lake currently sits at 3,519.2 ft — between its all-time high of 3,708.34 ft (July 1983) and its modern low of 3,519.2 ft (April 2023).
Lake Powell Water Level Trends & History
Water Level History
Ranged from 3,519.20 ft to 3,523.25 ft; latest 3,519.20 ft.
Daily Change
Day-over-day elevation change in feet. Green bars are rises, red are drops.
On This Day
Today's elevation compared to the same date in prior years.
Today
3,519.2 ft
1 year ago (2025)
3,550.59 ft
-31.39 ft vs today
5 years ago (2021)
3,550.88 ft
-31.68 ft vs today
10 years ago (2016)
3,615.31 ft
-96.11 ft vs today
25 years ago (2001)
3,667.49 ft
-148.29 ft vs today
All-time high
3,708.34 ft
July 14, 1983
Modern low
3,519.2 ft
August 20, 2026
Critical Thresholds
Ramp Activation Thresholds
Shows the elevation at which each ramp opens. Current water level (3,519.2 ft) marked with the blue line.
Modern Low
3,519.2 ft
August 2026
Full Pool
3,700 ft
Last reached: 1983
Record highs and lows
Lake Powell finished filling in 1980 and hit its all-time high of 3,708.34 ft on July 14, 1983 during the huge snowpack year of 1983. Two decades of drought later, it fell to its modern low of 3,519.2 ft on August 20, 2026 — a swing of nearly 189 vertical feet.
Reference lines to keep in mind when reading the chart: Full Pool is 3,700 ft, the minimum power pool for hydropower generation at Glen Canyon Dam is 3,490 ft, and dead pool — below which water cannot pass through the dam's outlet works — is 3,370 ft.
Chart FAQ
What is the highest water level Lake Powell has ever reached?
Lake Powell's all-time high was 3,708.34 ft, recorded on July 14, 1983 — within a few feet of the 3,700 ft Full Pool mark.
What is the lowest Lake Powell has been?
The modern record low was 3,519.2 ft on August 20, 2026, the lowest since the reservoir first filled. That was only 29 ft above the minimum power pool of 3,490 ft.
How much has Lake Powell changed in the past year?
Lake Powell is 31.39 ft lower than one year ago (3,519.2 ft now vs 3,550.59 ft then).
Why does Lake Powell rise and fall each year?
The lake follows a seasonal cycle: Rocky Mountain snowmelt raises it from roughly April through July, then releases through Glen Canyon Dam exceed inflows and the level declines through winter. Wet and dry snowpack years stretch or shrink that cycle.
Updated August 20, 2026 · Elevation data: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). Ramp status: National Park Service (NPS). Informational only — verify conditions with official sources.