Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Lake Sakakawea

Lake levels

Dry Lake, ND

gauge height
49.93 ft
Condition
Above average for this time of year
7-day change
-0.06 ft
30-day change
-0.28 ft
1-year change
+1.27 ft

Reading as of 2026-10-12 | the U.S. Geological Survey

Since yesterday
-0.08 ft
7-day change
-0.06 ft
30-day change
-0.28 ft
1-year change
+1.27 ft
Record high
54.50 ft

In brief

Dry Lake's gauge read 49.93 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is higher than 77% of October readings since 1983.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Gauge height above a local reference point; not elevation above sea level.

Lake level timeline

49.449.850.150.450.7SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 50.2149.93 ft

Records and averages

Current level49.93 ft
Record high54.50 ft (2011-05-01)
Record low41.80 ft (1991-09-14)
Average of all readings48.60 ft
Data span43 years (12,360 readings)

Level schematic

41.344.748.151.655.0PUBLISHED HIGH 54.50 ft49.93 ftPUBLISHED LOW 41.80 ft

Frequently asked questions

Is Dry Lake full right now?

As of 2026-10-12, Dry Lake sits at 49.93 ft, which is above average for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 0.28 ft.

What is the water level at Dry Lake today?

The most recent reading at Dry Lake is 49.93 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 Dry Lake has ever been?

The highest level for Dry Lake in our records is 54.50 ft on 2011-05-01. The lowest is 41.80 ft on 1991-09-14. Our record covers about 43 years of readings.

Is Dry Lake low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 77% of them, which we classify as above 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 Dry 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. Dry Lake has fallen 0.28 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.

How much has Dry Lake changed over the past year?

Dry Lake is +1.27 ft compared with this date last year (49.93 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 43 years, with a record high of 54.50 ft and a record low of 41.80 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Dry Lake's gauge read 49.93 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is higher than 77% of October readings since 1983.

From the U.S. Geological Survey, updated daily. The sentence changes with every new reading, so quote it with its date.

Download the full record

dry-lake-nd-water-level-history.csv

12,360 readings, Oct 1, 1983 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily readings. The longest gap since then is 209 days, from Aug 17, 1988. Columns: date, gauge_height_ft. 217 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Dry Lake water level, 1983 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/nd/dry-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.

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Source: the U.S. Geological Survey. All North Dakota lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.