Lake Martin Water Level
Alabama · Tallapoosa River
Full pool is the summer level. Lake Martin is drawn down about 7 ft to roughly 483 ft over winter for flood storage, so a lower reading outside the summer season is usually scheduled rather than drought.
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Water level history
About Lake Martin
Lake Martin is a reservoir on the Tallapoosa River in Alabama, operated by Alabama Power. It was one of the largest man-made lakes in the world when built in 1926. Its full summer pool sits at 490 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Lake Martin's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation Alabama Power targets when Lake Martin is completely filled — 490 feet above sea level. Lake Martin is a generation pool: Alabama Power runs it to a licensed operating band around 490 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.
Lake Martin 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 Lake Martin, 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 Martin — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Lake Martin?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Lake Martin's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).
What is full pool for Lake Martin?
Lake Martin's full summer pool is 490 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Lake Martin?
Lake Martin is operated by Alabama Power on the Tallapoosa River.
Where is Lake Martin located?
Lake Martin is in Alabama, on the Tallapoosa River.
Why is Lake Martin 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 Lake Martin?
The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Lake Martin.
Other lakes near Lake Martin
- Lake MitchellAL
- Logan Martin LakeAL
- Neely Henry LakeAL
- Lewis Smith LakeAL
- Pickwick LakeAL/TN/MS
- Lay LakeAL
See current levels for all 21 Alabama lakes and reservoirs →
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