Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris) Water Level

Alabama · Tallapoosa River

792.16ft
Reading: Sep 11, 2026
0.84 ft below full pool

Full pool is the summer level. Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris) is drawn down about 8 ft to roughly 785 ft over winter for flood storage, so a lower reading outside the summer season is usually scheduled rather than drought.

768 ft793 ft (full)
Full pool
793 ft
Vs full pool
−0.84 ft
Managed by
Alabama Power
Recent high
793.24 ft (2021)
Recent low
775.30 ft (2020)

Water level history

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

About Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris)

Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris) is a reservoir on the Tallapoosa River in Alabama, operated by Alabama Power. Locals call it Lake Wedowee; the Corps and the utility call it R.L. Harris Reservoir. Its full summer pool sits at 793 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.

Understanding Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris)'s water level

"Full pool" is the elevation Alabama Power targets when Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris) is completely filled — 793 feet above sea level. Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris) is a generation pool: Alabama Power runs it to a licensed operating band around 793 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.

Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris) 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 Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris), 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 Wedowee (R.L. Harris) — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris)?

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

What is full pool for Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris)?

Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris)'s full summer pool is 793 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris)?

Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris) is operated by Alabama Power on the Tallapoosa River.

Where is Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris) located?

Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris) is in Alabama, on the Tallapoosa River.

Why is Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris) 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 Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris)?

The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris).

Other lakes near Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris)

See current levels for all 21 Alabama lakes and reservoirs →

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