Lake levels
Black Butte Lake, CA
- water level
- 433.69 ft
- Condition
- Low for this time of year
- 7-day change
- -2.72 ft
- 30-day change
- -9.31 ft
- 1-year change
- -10.86 ft
Reading as of 2026-10-13 | the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Since yesterday
- -0.44 ft
- 7-day change
- -2.72 ft
- 30-day change
- -9.31 ft
- 1-year change
- -10.86 ft
- Record high
- 474.20 ft
In brief
Black Butte Lake stood at 433.69 feet on Oct 13, 2026. That is lower than 85% of October readings since 1986.
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Lake level timeline
Records and averages
| Current level | 433.69 ft |
|---|---|
| Flood pool | 473.50 ft |
| Record high | 474.20 ft (1995-03-12) |
| Record low | 425.28 ft (1994-11-24) |
| Average of all readings | 449.72 ft |
| Data span | 39 years (14,594 readings) |
Level schematic
Frequently asked questions
Is Black Butte Lake full right now?
As of 2026-10-13, Black Butte Lake sits at 433.69 ft, which is low for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 9.31 ft.
What is the water level at Black Butte Lake today?
The most recent reading at Black Butte Lake is 433.69 ft (2026-10-13), sourced from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.
What is the highest Black Butte Lake has ever been?
The highest level for Black Butte Lake in our records is 474.20 ft on 1995-03-12. The lowest is 425.28 ft on 1994-11-24. Our record covers about 39 years of readings.
Is Black Butte Lake low for this time of year?
Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 15% of them, which we classify as low for this time of year. Seasonal comparison matters more than the raw number, because most reservoirs draw down predictably through late summer and refill over winter and spring.
Why is Black Butte Lake low right now?
Reservoir levels move for four main reasons: rainfall and runoff into the basin, releases through the dam for downstream water supply, power generation or flood control, evaporation during hot months, and seasonal drawdown schedules set by the operating agency. Black Butte Lake has fallen 9.31 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers directly.
How much has Black Butte Lake changed over the past year?
Black Butte Lake is -10.86 ft compared with this date last year (433.69 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 39 years, with a record high of 474.20 ft and a record low of 425.28 ft.
Download and cite
Quote this reading
Black Butte Lake stood at 433.69 feet on Oct 13, 2026. That is lower than 85% of October readings since 1986.
Download the full record
black-butte-lake-ca-water-level-history.csv
How to cite
MyWaterLevel, “Black Butte Lake water level, 1986 to 2026,” data from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/ca/black-butte-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.
Source: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. All California lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.