Nolin River Lake Water Level

Kentucky · Nolin River

515.38ft
Reading: Aug 21, 2026
0.38 ft above full pool
490 ft515 ft (full)
Full pool
515 ft
Vs full pool
+0.38 ft
Managed by
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Recent high
556.29 ft (2025)
Recent low
491.86 ft (2020)

Water level history

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

About Nolin River Lake

Nolin River Lake is a reservoir on the Nolin River in Kentucky, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 515 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.

Understanding Nolin River Lake's water level

"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Nolin River Lake is completely filled — 515 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 515 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 Nolin 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 Nolin 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.

Nolin River Lake — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Nolin River Lake?

The gauge at the top of this page shows Nolin 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 Nolin River Lake?

Nolin River Lake's full summer pool is 515 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Nolin River Lake?

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

Where is Nolin River Lake located?

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

Why is Nolin 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 Nolin River Lake?

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

Other lakes near Nolin River Lake

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