
Lake levels
Lake Kampeska, SD
- gauge height
- 17.51 ft
- Condition
- About average for this time of year
- 7-day change
- -0.02 ft
- 30-day change
- +0.01 ft
- 1-year change
- -0.43 ft
Reading as of 2026-10-12 | the U.S. Geological Survey
- Since yesterday
- +0.00 ft
- 7-day change
- -0.02 ft
- 30-day change
- +0.01 ft
- 1-year change
- -0.43 ft
- Record high
- 22.57 ft
In brief
Lake Kampeska's gauge read 17.51 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 59% of October readings since 2001.
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 | 17.51 ft |
|---|---|
| Record high | 22.57 ft (2010-03-22) |
| Record low | 14.77 ft (2012-10-15) |
| Average of all readings | 17.83 ft |
| Data span | 25 years (5,890 readings) |
Level schematic
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Kampeska full right now?
As of 2026-10-12, Lake Kampeska sits at 17.51 ft, which is about average for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has risen 0.01 ft.
What is the water level at Lake Kampeska today?
The most recent reading at Lake Kampeska is 17.51 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 Lake Kampeska has ever been?
The highest level for Lake Kampeska in our records is 22.57 ft on 2010-03-22. The lowest is 14.77 ft on 2012-10-15. Our record covers about 25 years of readings.
Is Lake Kampeska 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 Lake Kampeska 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. Lake Kampeska has risen 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 Lake Kampeska changed over the past year?
Lake Kampeska is -0.43 ft compared with this date last year (17.51 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 25 years, with a record high of 22.57 ft and a record low of 14.77 ft.
Download and cite
Quote this reading
Lake Kampeska's gauge read 17.51 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 59% of October readings since 2001.
Download the full record
lake-kampeska-sd-water-level-history.csv
How to cite
MyWaterLevel, “Lake Kampeska water level, 2001 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/sd/lake-kampeska/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.
Source: the U.S. Geological Survey. All South Dakota lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.