Paintsville Lake Water Level

Kentucky · Paint Creek

709.00ft
Reading: Sep 11, 2026
At full pool
684 ft709 ft (full)
Full pool
709 ft
Vs full pool
Full
Managed by
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Recent high
725.72 ft (2021)
Recent low
706.83 ft (2024)

Water level history

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

About Paintsville Lake

Paintsville Lake is a reservoir on the Paint Creek in Kentucky, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 709 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.

Understanding Paintsville Lake's water level

"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Paintsville Lake is completely filled — 709 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 709 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 Paintsville 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 Paintsville 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.

Paintsville Lake — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Paintsville Lake?

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

What is full pool for Paintsville Lake?

Paintsville Lake's full summer pool is 709 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Paintsville Lake?

Paintsville Lake is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Paint Creek.

Where is Paintsville Lake located?

Paintsville Lake is in Kentucky, on the Paint Creek.

Why is Paintsville 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 Paintsville Lake?

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

Other lakes near Paintsville Lake

See current levels for all 15 Kentucky lakes and reservoirs →

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