Bankhead Lake Water Level
Alabama · Black Warrior River
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Water level history
About Bankhead Lake
Bankhead Lake is a reservoir on the Black Warrior River in Alabama, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 255 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Bankhead Lake's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Bankhead Lake is completely filled — 255 feet above sea level. Bankhead Lake is a generation pool: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers runs it to a licensed operating band around 255 ft rather than keeping deep flood storage above it. That means the level answers to the day's generation schedule and to how much water is coming down the river, so it can move noticeably between morning and evening and still be exactly where it is supposed to be.
Bankhead Lake is normally held near its summer pool from spring through the recreation season, then let down over winter to the utility's cold-weather elevation so there is room for high water. Within any given week the bigger mover is generation: releases through the powerhouse pull the pool down and inflow brings it back, which is why a foot of daily swing here is routine rather than a warning sign.
The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Bankhead Lake, so they show how today compares over that record rather than an all-time extreme. The 12-month and 5-year chart views make the trend and the lake's usual seasonal shape easy to see.
Bankhead Lake — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Bankhead Lake?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Bankhead Lake's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).
What is full pool for Bankhead Lake?
Bankhead Lake's full summer pool is 255 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Bankhead Lake?
Bankhead Lake is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Black Warrior River.
Where is Bankhead Lake located?
Bankhead Lake is in Alabama, on the Black Warrior River.
Why is Bankhead Lake low right now?
Reservoir levels fall during dry spells and seasonal drawdown — when U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lowers the pool for flood storage, power, or water supply — and recover after rain and snowmelt. The history chart above shows the recent trend.
What are the record high and low levels for Bankhead Lake?
The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Bankhead Lake.
Other lakes near Bankhead Lake
- Dannelly Reservoir (Millers Ferry)AL
- Woodruff Lake (Robert F. Henry)AL
- Demopolis LakeAL
- Wilson LakeAL
- Lake GuntersvilleAL
- Wheeler LakeAL
See current levels for all 21 Alabama lakes and reservoirs →
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