
Lake levels
Otsego Lake, MI
- gauge height
- 3.65 ft
- Condition
- High for this time of year
- 7-day change
- -0.04 ft
- 30-day change
- -0.01 ft
- 1-year change
- +0.53 ft
Reading as of 2026-10-12 | the U.S. Geological Survey
- Since yesterday
- +0.01 ft
- 7-day change
- -0.04 ft
- 30-day change
- -0.01 ft
- 1-year change
- +0.53 ft
- Record high
- 4.57 ft
In brief
Otsego Lake's gauge read 3.65 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is higher than 96% of October readings since 1986.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Gauge height above a local reference point; not elevation above sea level.
Lake level timeline
Records and averages
| Current level | 3.65 ft |
|---|---|
| Record high | 4.57 ft (2026-04-18) |
| Record low | 0.99 ft (2003-09-30) |
| Average of all readings | 2.93 ft |
| Data span | 40 years (14,302 readings) |
Level schematic
Trout stocking on Otsego Lake
Michigan DNR stocked Otsego Lake 2 times in 2026, 1,244,621 fish in total. Walleye and Muskellunge at 0.5 and 25.8.
| Species | Fish | When |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 1,244,000 | April 2026 |
| Muskellunge | 621 | June 2026 |
Michigan DNR lists a week or a month rather than a date, and counts fish as an estimate. Full Michigan stocking schedule →
Frequently asked questions
Is Otsego Lake full right now?
As of 2026-10-12, Otsego Lake sits at 3.65 ft, which is high for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 0.01 ft.
What is the water level at Otsego Lake today?
The most recent reading at Otsego Lake is 3.65 ft (2026-10-12), sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.
What is the highest Otsego Lake has ever been?
The highest level for Otsego Lake in our records is 4.57 ft on 2026-04-18. The lowest is 0.99 ft on 2003-09-30. Our record covers about 40 years of readings.
Is Otsego Lake low for this time of year?
Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 96% of them, which we classify as high 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 Otsego 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. Otsego Lake has fallen 0.01 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.
How much has Otsego Lake changed over the past year?
Otsego Lake is +0.53 ft compared with this date last year (3.65 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 40 years, with a record high of 4.57 ft and a record low of 0.99 ft.
Download and cite
Quote this reading
Otsego Lake's gauge read 3.65 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is higher than 96% of October readings since 1986.
Download the full record
otsego-lake-mi-water-level-history.csv
How to cite
MyWaterLevel, “Otsego Lake water level, 1986 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/mi/otsego-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.
Source: the U.S. Geological Survey. All Michigan lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.