Lake Sonoma Water Level

California · Dry Creek

448.08ft
Reading: Sep 11, 2026
3.02 ft below full pool
380 ft451.1 ft (full)
Full pool
451.1 ft
Vs full pool
−3.02 ft
Managed by
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Recent high
470.18 ft (2023)
Recent low
376.31 ft (2022)

Water level history

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

About Lake Sonoma

Lake Sonoma is a reservoir on the Dry Creek in California, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 451.1 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.

Understanding Lake Sonoma's water level

"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Lake Sonoma is completely filled — 451.1 feet above sea level. That is the elevation Lake Sonoma reaches at the top of a good runoff year, not a level it is held at. Reservoirs like this one fill from winter storms and snowmelt and are then drawn down deliberately through the dry season, so the gap between today's reading and 451.1 ft is normally the season rather than a shortage. Judge it against the same week last year, not against full.

Lake Sonoma climbs through winter and spring as storms and snowmelt come off the mountains, peaks around late spring, and falls steadily through summer and autumn as water goes downstream and flood space is reopened for the next winter. A wet winter can raise it dramatically; the low point almost always lands in autumn regardless.

The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Lake Sonoma, 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.

Lake Sonoma — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Lake Sonoma?

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

What is full pool for Lake Sonoma?

Lake Sonoma's full summer pool is 451.1 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Lake Sonoma?

Lake Sonoma is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Dry Creek.

Where is Lake Sonoma located?

Lake Sonoma is in California, on the Dry Creek.

Why is Lake Sonoma 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 Lake Sonoma?

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

Other lakes near Lake Sonoma

See current levels for all 29 California lakes and reservoirs →

Add this gauge to your website

Run a marina, boat rental, guide service, or real-estate site on Lake Sonoma? Put this free live-level widget on your page — just copy and paste the code:

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