Cave Run Lake Water Level
Kentucky · Licking River
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Water level history
About Cave Run Lake
Cave Run Lake is a reservoir on the Licking River in Kentucky, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It's famous for muskie fishing in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Its full summer pool sits at 730 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Cave Run Lake's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Cave Run Lake is completely filled — 730 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 730 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 Cave Run Lake 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 Cave Run 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.
Cave Run Lake — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Cave Run Lake?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Cave Run Lake's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).
What is full pool for Cave Run Lake?
Cave Run Lake's full summer pool is 730 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Cave Run Lake?
Cave Run Lake is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Licking River.
Where is Cave Run Lake located?
Cave Run Lake is in Kentucky, on the Licking River.
Why is Cave Run 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 Cave Run Lake?
The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Cave Run Lake.
Other lakes near Cave Run Lake
- Lake BarkleyKY/TN
- Barren River LakeKY
- Lake CumberlandKY
- Dale Hollow LakeKY/TN
- Green River LakeKY
- Kentucky LakeKY/TN
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