Richard B. Russell Lake Water Level
Georgia & South Carolina · Savannah River
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Water level history
About Richard B. Russell Lake
Richard B. Russell Lake is a reservoir on the Savannah River in Georgia & South Carolina, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 475 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from USGS gauge 02188100 and update every 15 to 60 minutes.
Understanding Richard B. Russell Lake's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Richard B. Russell Lake is completely filled — 475 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 475 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 Richard B. Russell 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.
Richard B. Russell Lake — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Richard B. Russell Lake?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Richard B. Russell Lake's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from USGS gauge 02188100.
What is full pool for Richard B. Russell Lake?
Richard B. Russell Lake's full summer pool is 475 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Richard B. Russell Lake?
Richard B. Russell Lake is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Savannah River.
Where is Richard B. Russell Lake located?
Richard B. Russell Lake is in Georgia & South Carolina, on the Savannah River.
Why is Richard B. Russell 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 Richard B. Russell 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.
Other lakes near Richard B. Russell Lake
- Lake AllatoonaGA
- Lake Blue RidgeGA
- Carters LakeGA
- Lake ChatugeGA/NC
- Lake GreenwoodSC
- Lake HartwellGA/SC
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