Laurel River Lake Water Level

Kentucky · Laurel River

1,003.80ft
Reading: Aug 22, 2026
11.20 ft below full pool
990 ft1015 ft (full)
Full pool
1015 ft
Vs full pool
−11.20 ft
Managed by
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Recent high
1,019.47 ft (2025)
Recent low
998.98 ft (2026)

Water level history

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

About Laurel River Lake

Laurel River Lake is a reservoir on the Laurel River in Kentucky, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 1015 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.

Understanding Laurel River Lake's water level

"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Laurel River Lake is completely filled — 1015 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 1015 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 Laurel River 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 Laurel River 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.

Laurel River Lake — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Laurel River Lake?

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

What is full pool for Laurel River Lake?

Laurel River Lake's full summer pool is 1015 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Laurel River Lake?

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

Where is Laurel River Lake located?

Laurel River Lake is in Kentucky, on the Laurel River.

Why is Laurel River 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 Laurel River Lake?

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

Other lakes near Laurel River Lake

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