Lake Francis Case Water Level

South Dakota · Missouri River

1,354.54ft
Reading: Sep 11, 2026
10.46 ft below full pool
1340 ft1365 ft (full)
Full pool
1365 ft
Vs full pool
−10.46 ft
Managed by
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Recent high
1,361.23 ft (2024)
Recent low
1,335.81 ft (2022)

Water level history

Loading water level history…
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS). Provisional data, subject to revision.

About Lake Francis Case

Lake Francis Case is a reservoir on the Missouri River in South Dakota, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 1365 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.

Understanding Lake Francis Case's water level

"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Lake Francis Case is completely filled — 1365 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 1365 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 typical year the Corps keeps Lake Francis Case lower over winter for flood storage and lets it fill for the summer recreation season. Levels can jump several feet after a single big storm and are drawn down again once the high water passes.

The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Lake Francis Case, 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 Francis Case — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Lake Francis Case?

The gauge at the top of this page shows Lake Francis Case's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).

What is full pool for Lake Francis Case?

Lake Francis Case's full summer pool is 1365 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Lake Francis Case?

Lake Francis Case is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Missouri River.

Where is Lake Francis Case located?

Lake Francis Case is in South Dakota, on the Missouri River.

Why is Lake Francis Case 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 Francis Case?

The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Lake Francis Case.

Other lakes near Lake Francis Case

See current levels for all 6 South Dakota lakes and reservoirs →

Add this gauge to your website

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