Lake levels
Richard B. Russell Lake, GA
- water level
- 472.97 ft
- Condition
- Below average for this time of year
- 7-day change
- +0.25 ft
- Below full
- 2.03 ft
- 30-day change
- -1.06 ft
Reading as of 2026-10-08 | the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Since yesterday
- +0.00 ft
- 7-day change
- +0.25 ft
- 30-day change
- -1.06 ft
- Below full
- 2.03 ft
- 1-year change
- -1.17 ft
In brief
Richard B. Russell Lake stood at 472.97 feet on Oct 8, 2026, 2.03 feet below its full pool of 475 feet. That is lower than 67% of October readings since 1986.
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Lake level timeline
Records and averages
| Current level | 472.97 ft |
|---|---|
| Full pool (conservation) | 475.00 ft |
| Flood pool | 480.00 ft |
| Record high | 479.79 ft (2016-01-07) |
| Record low | 469.56 ft (2009-01-21) |
| Average of all readings | 474.07 ft |
| Data span | 39 years (14,596 readings) |
Level schematic
Frequently asked questions
Is Richard B. Russell Lake full right now?
As of 2026-10-08, Richard B. Russell Lake sits at 472.97 ft, which is below average for this time of year. That is 2.03 ft below full pool of 475.00 ft. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 1.06 ft.
What is the water level at Richard B. Russell Lake today?
The most recent reading at Richard B. Russell Lake is 472.97 ft (2026-10-08), 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 Richard B. Russell Lake has ever been?
The highest level for Richard B. Russell Lake in our records is 479.79 ft on 2016-01-07. The lowest is 469.56 ft on 2009-01-21. Our record covers about 39 years of readings.
Is Richard B. Russell Lake low for this time of year?
Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 33% of them, which we classify as below average 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 Richard B. Russell Lake changing 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. Richard B. Russell Lake has fallen 1.06 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 Richard B. Russell Lake changed over the past year?
Richard B. Russell Lake is -1.17 ft compared with this date last year (472.97 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 39 years, with a record high of 479.79 ft and a record low of 469.56 ft.
Download and cite
Quote this reading
Richard B. Russell Lake stood at 472.97 feet on Oct 8, 2026, 2.03 feet below its full pool of 475 feet. That is lower than 67% of October readings since 1986.
Download the full record
richard-b-russell-lake-ga-water-level-history.csv
How to cite
MyWaterLevel, “Richard B. Russell Lake water level, 1986 to 2026,” data from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/ga/richard-b-russell-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.
Source: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. All Georgia lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.