Kaw Lake Water Level

Oklahoma · Arkansas River

1,017.20ft
Reading: Jul 21, 2026
7.20 ft above full pool
985 ft1010 ft (full)
Full pool
1010 ft
Vs full pool
+7.20 ft
Managed by
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Recent high
Recent low

Water level history

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

About Kaw Lake

Kaw Lake is a reservoir on the Arkansas River in Oklahoma, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 1010 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.

Understanding Kaw Lake's water level

"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Kaw Lake is completely filled — 1010 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 1010 ft for long. A reading a few feet under full is usually just the normal operating band rather than a sign of drought.

Kaw Lake is held near its conservation pool, with extra room above kept open for floods. In practice the larger swings come from Texas weather — levels slide through hot, dry summers and rebound when spring storms or tropical systems deliver heavy rain.

The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Kaw 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.

Kaw Lake — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Kaw Lake?

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

What is full pool for Kaw Lake?

Kaw Lake's full summer pool is 1010 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Kaw Lake?

Kaw Lake is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Arkansas River.

Where is Kaw Lake located?

Kaw Lake is in Oklahoma, on the Arkansas River.

Why is Kaw 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 Kaw Lake?

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

Other lakes near Kaw Lake

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