Smithville Lake Water Level

Missouri · Little Platte River

863.58ft
Reading: Sep 11, 2026
0.62 ft below full pool
839.2 ft864.2 ft (full)
Full pool
864.2 ft
Vs full pool
−0.62 ft
Managed by
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Recent high
870.61 ft (2021)
Recent low
861.57 ft (2023)

Water level history

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

About Smithville Lake

Smithville Lake is a reservoir on the Little Platte River in Missouri, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 864.2 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.

Understanding Smithville Lake's water level

"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Smithville Lake is completely filled — 864.2 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 864.2 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 Smithville Lake 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 Smithville 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.

Smithville Lake — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Smithville Lake?

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

What is full pool for Smithville Lake?

Smithville Lake's full summer pool is 864.2 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Smithville Lake?

Smithville Lake is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Little Platte River.

Where is Smithville Lake located?

Smithville Lake is in Missouri, on the Little Platte River.

Why is Smithville 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 Smithville Lake?

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

Other lakes near Smithville Lake

See current levels for all 12 Missouri lakes and reservoirs →

Add this gauge to your website

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