Lake Barkley Water Level
Kentucky & Tennessee · Cumberland River
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Water level history
About Lake Barkley
Lake Barkley is a reservoir on the Cumberland River in Kentucky & Tennessee, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A canal links it to neighboring Kentucky Lake. Its full summer pool sits at 359 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Lake Barkley's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Lake Barkley is completely filled — 359 feet above sea level. Above that line the Corps deliberately keeps empty "flood storage" to absorb heavy rain, so the lake rarely sits far above 359 ft for long. A reading a few feet under full is usually just the normal operating band rather than a sign of drought.
In a normal year Lake Barkley sits highest through the summer recreation season and lower over winter, when the Corps makes room for storms. Extended dry spells in late summer and fall are what usually pull the lake noticeably below full pool.
The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Lake Barkley, 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.
Lake Barkley — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Lake Barkley?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Lake Barkley's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).
What is full pool for Lake Barkley?
Lake Barkley's full summer pool is 359 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Lake Barkley?
Lake Barkley is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Cumberland River.
Where is Lake Barkley located?
Lake Barkley is in Kentucky & Tennessee, on the Cumberland River.
Why is Lake Barkley 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 Lake Barkley?
The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Lake Barkley.
Other lakes near Lake Barkley
- Barren River LakeKY
- Boone LakeTN
- Cave Run LakeKY
- Center Hill LakeTN
- Cherokee LakeTN
- Chickamauga LakeTN
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