Lay Lake Water Level
Alabama · Coosa River
Sponsor Lay Lake
Put your marina, real-estate, or local business in front of everyone checking this lake's level. One exclusive sponsor per lake.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
Water level history
About Lay Lake
Lay Lake is a reservoir on the Coosa River in Alabama, operated by Alabama Power. Its full summer pool sits at 396 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Lay Lake's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation Alabama Power targets when Lay Lake is completely filled — 396 feet above sea level. Lay Lake is a generation pool: Alabama Power runs it to a licensed operating band around 396 ft rather than keeping deep flood storage above it. That means the level answers to the day's generation schedule and to how much water is coming down the river, so it can move noticeably between morning and evening and still be exactly where it is supposed to be.
Lay Lake is normally held near its summer pool from spring through the recreation season, then let down over winter to the utility's cold-weather elevation so there is room for high water. Within any given week the bigger mover is generation: releases through the powerhouse pull the pool down and inflow brings it back, which is why a foot of daily swing here is routine rather than a warning sign.
The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Lay 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.
Lay Lake — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Lay Lake?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Lay Lake's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).
What is full pool for Lay Lake?
Lay Lake's full summer pool is 396 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Lay Lake?
Lay Lake is operated by Alabama Power on the Coosa River.
Where is Lay Lake located?
Lay Lake is in Alabama, on the Coosa River.
Why is Lay Lake low right now?
Reservoir levels fall during dry spells and seasonal drawdown — when Alabama Power 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 Lay Lake?
The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Lay Lake.
Other lakes near Lay Lake
- Lewis Smith LakeAL
- Lake JordanAL
- Logan Martin LakeAL
- Holt LakeAL
- Lake MartinAL
- Lake Harding (Bartletts Ferry)GA/AL
See current levels for all 21 Alabama lakes and reservoirs →
Add this gauge to your website
Run a marina, boat rental, guide service, or real-estate site on Lay Lake? Put this free live-level widget on your page — just copy and paste the code: