Hillsdale Lake Water Level

Kansas · Big Bull Creek

916.90ft
Reading: Sep 11, 2026
0.10 ft below full pool
892 ft917 ft (full)
Full pool
917 ft
Vs full pool
−0.10 ft
Managed by
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Recent high
922.84 ft (2021)
Recent low
914.78 ft (2024)

Water level history

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

About Hillsdale Lake

Hillsdale Lake is a reservoir on the Big Bull Creek in Kansas, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 917 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.

Understanding Hillsdale Lake's water level

"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Hillsdale Lake is completely filled — 917 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 917 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 Hillsdale Lake 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 Hillsdale 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.

Hillsdale Lake — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Hillsdale Lake?

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

What is full pool for Hillsdale Lake?

Hillsdale Lake's full summer pool is 917 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Hillsdale Lake?

Hillsdale Lake is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Big Bull Creek.

Where is Hillsdale Lake located?

Hillsdale Lake is in Kansas, on the Big Bull Creek.

Why is Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale Lake?

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

Other lakes near Hillsdale Lake

See current levels for all 21 Kansas lakes and reservoirs →

Add this gauge to your website

Run a marina, boat rental, guide service, or real-estate site on Hillsdale Lake? Put this free live-level widget on your page — just copy and paste the code:

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