Lake levels
Barren River Lake, KY
- water level
- 550.95 ft
- Condition
- About average for this time of year
- 7-day change
- -0.21 ft
- Below full
- 1.05 ft
- 30-day change
- -1.36 ft
Reading as of 2026-10-13 | the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Since yesterday
- -0.02 ft
- 7-day change
- -0.21 ft
- 30-day change
- -1.36 ft
- Below full
- 1.05 ft
- 1-year change
- -0.35 ft
In brief
Barren River Lake stood at 550.95 feet on Oct 13, 2026, 1.05 feet below its full pool of 552 feet. That is lower than 59% of October readings since 2013.
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Lake level timeline
Records and averages
| Current level | 550.95 ft |
|---|---|
| Full pool (conservation) | 552.00 ft |
| Flood pool | 590.00 ft |
| Record high | 586.04 ft (2025-04-16) |
| Record low | 528.04 ft (2026-01-14) |
| Average of all readings | 547.73 ft |
| Data span | 12 years (4,672 readings) |
Level schematic
Frequently asked questions
Is Barren River Lake full right now?
As of 2026-10-13, Barren River Lake sits at 550.95 ft, which is about average for this time of year. That is 1.05 ft below full pool of 552.00 ft. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 1.36 ft.
What is the water level at Barren River Lake today?
The most recent reading at Barren River Lake is 550.95 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 Barren River Lake has ever been?
The highest level for Barren River Lake in our records is 586.04 ft on 2025-04-16. The lowest is 528.04 ft on 2026-01-14. Our record covers about 12 years of readings.
Is Barren River Lake low for this time of year?
Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 41% of them, which we classify as about 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 Barren River 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. Barren River Lake has fallen 1.36 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 Barren River Lake changed over the past year?
Barren River Lake is -0.35 ft compared with this date last year (550.95 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 12 years, with a record high of 586.04 ft and a record low of 528.04 ft.
Download and cite
Quote this reading
Barren River Lake stood at 550.95 feet on Oct 13, 2026, 1.05 feet below its full pool of 552 feet. That is lower than 59% of October readings since 2013.
Download the full record
barren-river-lake-ky-water-level-history.csv
How to cite
MyWaterLevel, “Barren River Lake water level, 2013 to 2026,” data from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/ky/barren-river-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.
Source: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. All Kentucky lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.