Philpott Lake Water Level
Virginia · Smith River
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Water level history
About Philpott Lake
Philpott Lake is a reservoir on the Smith River in Virginia, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 974 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from USGS gauge 02071900 and update every 15 to 60 minutes.
Understanding Philpott Lake's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Philpott Lake is completely filled — 974 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 974 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 Philpott 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 all-time high and low above come from the full USGS period of record for this gauge — often decades of data — so they're a good yardstick for how unusual today's level really is. Use the chart's "Compare 5 years" view to see whether the current reading is running ahead of or behind a typical year.
Philpott Lake — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Philpott Lake?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Philpott Lake's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from USGS gauge 02071900.
What is full pool for Philpott Lake?
Philpott Lake's full summer pool is 974 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Philpott Lake?
Philpott Lake is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Smith River.
Where is Philpott Lake located?
Philpott Lake is in Virginia, on the Smith River.
Why is Philpott 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 Philpott Lake?
The all-time high and low elevations, with the years they occurred, are shown in the stats on this page and come from the full USGS period of record.
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