Sutton Lake Water Level

West Virginia · Elk River

923.70ft
Reading: Sep 11, 2026
1.30 ft below full pool
900 ft925 ft (full)
Full pool
925 ft
Vs full pool
−1.30 ft
Managed by
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Recent high
941.23 ft (2021)
Recent low
894.99 ft (2024)

Water level history

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

About Sutton Lake

Sutton Lake is a reservoir on the Elk River in West Virginia, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 925 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.

Understanding Sutton Lake's water level

"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Sutton Lake is completely filled — 925 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 925 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 Sutton 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 recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Sutton 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.

Sutton Lake — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Sutton Lake?

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

What is full pool for Sutton Lake?

Sutton Lake's full summer pool is 925 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Sutton Lake?

Sutton Lake is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Elk River.

Where is Sutton Lake located?

Sutton Lake is in West Virginia, on the Elk River.

Why is Sutton 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 Sutton Lake?

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

Other lakes near Sutton Lake

See current levels for all 7 West Virginia lakes and reservoirs →

Add this gauge to your website

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

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