Falls Lake Water Level
North Carolina · Neuse River
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Water level history
About Falls Lake
Falls Lake is a reservoir on the Neuse River in North Carolina, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 251.5 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from USGS gauge 02087182 and update every 15 to 60 minutes.
Understanding Falls Lake's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Falls Lake is completely filled — 251.5 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 251.5 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 Falls 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 all-time high and low above come from the full USGS period of record for this gauge — often decades of data — so they're a good yardstick for how unusual today's level really is. Use the chart's "Compare 5 years" view to see whether the current reading is running ahead of or behind a typical year.
Falls Lake — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Falls Lake?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Falls Lake's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from USGS gauge 02087182.
What is full pool for Falls Lake?
Falls Lake's full summer pool is 251.5 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Falls Lake?
Falls Lake is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Neuse River.
Where is Falls Lake located?
Falls Lake is in North Carolina, on the Neuse River.
Why is Falls 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 Falls Lake?
The all-time high and low elevations, with the years they occurred, are shown in the stats on this page and come from the full USGS period of record.
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