Bull Shoals Dam water level — Arkansas
Bull Shoals Dam in Arkansas was last measured at 657.43 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 7:00 AM (UTC+00:00) (USACE CWMS Data). That is 87.1% of conservation-pool capacity. Over its recent trend window the level has been rising (+5.2 ft).
- % of conservation pool full
- 87.1%
- Storage
- Not reported
- Recent trend
- ↑Rising
+5.2 ft over the trend window
Recent trend
Readings this station published between Jun 2, 2026 and Jun 23, 2026 — a 20-day window — downsampled for display.
Data: USGS Water Services (waterservices.usgs.gov) and USACE CWMS Data (cwms-data.usace.army.mil), retrieved 2026-08-31. Both public domain (a work of the U.S. Government, 17 U.S.C. §105).
Source: USACE SWL/Bull_Shoals_Dam-Headwater, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →
The dam behind Bull Shoals Dam
Bull Shoals Dam is held back by Bull Shoals Dam (also recorded as Bull Shoals Lake) , a concrete structure , standing 282 ft high and running 2,256 ft along its crest , built across WHITE in Baxter County , near COTTER . It was completed in 1951 , and is owned by USACE - Little Rock District (a federal owner) , to a design credited to CESWL.
Its recorded primary purpose is flood risk reduction — the pool is drawn down between storms so there is empty space waiting for the next flood, which is why this level can fall in dry weather and climb sharply after rain . It also serves flood risk reduction;recreation;hydroelectric;water supply.
It is founded on rock, with a concrete core. Its spillway is gated, so the operator can hold the pool above the spillway crest and meter what leaves. The spillway opening is 680 ft wide.
NID classes it high hazard potential. That describes what a failure would cost downstream — loss of life would be expected — and says nothing about how likely a failure is, or what condition the dam is in.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 454,400 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 5,408,000 acre-ft against a normal storage of 3,048,000 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 500,000 cubic feet per second.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record AR00160 , filed by US Army Corps of Engineers — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, public domain. Water levels above come from USACE CWMS Data and are a separate source. (How this dam was matched to this gauge →)
How Bull Shoals Dam compares nearby
Bull Shoals Dam is at 87.1% of conservation-pool capacity. Of the 3 nearest lakes reporting a comparable figure, 2 are fuller, and 1 is lower. The fullest nearby is Norfork Dam at 95.4% and the lowest is Greers Ferry Dam at 85.4%. 4 of 6 nearby lakes with a current trend are also rising right now.
Nearby lakes
The six nearest published lakes by centroid distance (great-circle) — cross-state neighbors included.
| Lake | State | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfork Dam | AR | 554.24 ft | 33 km |
| Lake Taneycomo | MO | 700.71 ft | 59 km |
| Lake Taneycomo at School of the Ozarks | MO | 700.82 ft | 66 km |
| Table Rock Dam | MO | 913.79 ft | 71 km |
| Greers Ferry Dam | AR | 458.99 ft | 107 km |
| White River at Batesville | AR | 244.27 ft | 108 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Bull Shoals Dam?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 7:00 AM (UTC+00:00), the pool elevation was 657.43 ft (datum NGVD29). See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Bull Shoals Dam full right now?
- The source reports it at 87.1% of conservation-pool capacity as of Aug 31, 2026, 7:00 AM (UTC+00:00).
- Where does this data come from?
- From USACE SWL/Bull_Shoals_Dam-Headwater, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in Arkansas
See every lake tracked in Arkansas, or read the methodology behind these figures.