Pactola Reservoir Water Level
South Dakota · Rapid Creek
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Water level history
About Pactola Reservoir
Pactola Reservoir is a reservoir on the Rapid Creek in South Dakota, operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. It's the largest and deepest reservoir in the Black Hills. Its full summer pool sits at 4580.2 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Pactola Reservoir's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Bureau of Reclamation targets when Pactola Reservoir is completely filled — 4580.2 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 4580.2 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 typical year the Corps keeps Pactola Reservoir lower over winter for flood storage and lets it fill for the summer recreation season. Levels can jump several feet after a single big storm and are drawn down again once the high water passes.
The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Pactola Reservoir, 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.
Pactola Reservoir — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Pactola Reservoir?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Pactola Reservoir's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).
What is full pool for Pactola Reservoir?
Pactola Reservoir's full summer pool is 4580.2 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Pactola Reservoir?
Pactola Reservoir is operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on the Rapid Creek.
Where is Pactola Reservoir located?
Pactola Reservoir is in South Dakota, on the Rapid Creek.
Why is Pactola Reservoir low right now?
Reservoir levels fall during dry spells and seasonal drawdown — when U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 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 Pactola Reservoir?
The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Pactola Reservoir.
Other lakes near Pactola Reservoir
See current levels for all 6 South Dakota lakes and reservoirs →
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