Lewis Smith Lake Water Level
Alabama · Sipsey Fork
Full pool is the summer level. Lewis Smith Lake is drawn down about 14 ft to roughly 496 ft over winter for flood storage, so a lower reading outside the summer season is usually scheduled rather than drought.
Sponsor Lewis Smith Lake
Put your marina, real-estate, or local business in front of everyone checking this lake's level. One exclusive sponsor per lake.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
Water level history
About Lewis Smith Lake
Lewis Smith Lake is a reservoir on the Sipsey Fork in Alabama, operated by Alabama Power. It's one of the cleanest, deepest lakes in the Southeast. Its full summer pool sits at 510 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Lewis Smith Lake's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation Alabama Power targets when Lewis Smith Lake is completely filled — 510 feet above sea level. Lewis Smith Lake is a generation pool: Alabama Power runs it to a licensed operating band around 510 ft rather than keeping deep flood storage above it. That means the level answers to the day's generation schedule and to how much water is coming down the river, so it can move noticeably between morning and evening and still be exactly where it is supposed to be.
Lewis Smith Lake is normally held near its summer pool from spring through the recreation season, then let down over winter to the utility's cold-weather elevation so there is room for high water. Within any given week the bigger mover is generation: releases through the powerhouse pull the pool down and inflow brings it back, which is why a foot of daily swing here is routine rather than a warning sign.
The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Lewis Smith 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.
Lewis Smith Lake — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Lewis Smith Lake?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Lewis Smith Lake's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).
What is full pool for Lewis Smith Lake?
Lewis Smith Lake's full summer pool is 510 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Lewis Smith Lake?
Lewis Smith Lake is operated by Alabama Power on the Sipsey Fork.
Where is Lewis Smith Lake located?
Lewis Smith Lake is in Alabama, on the Sipsey Fork.
Why is Lewis Smith Lake low right now?
Reservoir levels fall during dry spells and seasonal drawdown — when Alabama Power 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 Lewis Smith Lake?
The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Lewis Smith Lake.
Other lakes near Lewis Smith Lake
See current levels for all 21 Alabama lakes and reservoirs →
Add this gauge to your website
Run a marina, boat rental, guide service, or real-estate site on Lewis Smith Lake? Put this free live-level widget on your page — just copy and paste the code: