Felsenthal Lock and Dam Lower water level — Arkansas

Arkansas · USACE · reading Aug 22, 2026, 1:15 PM (UTC+00:00)

Felsenthal Lock and Dam Lower in Arkansas was last measured at 50.52 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 22, 2026, 1:15 PM (UTC+00:00) (USACE CWMS Data). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−5.8 ft).

Current reading Felsenthal Lock and Dam Lower · Arkansas
Pool elevation
50.52 ft

Datum NGVD29. (Why datum matters →)

% of conservation pool full
Not reported
Storage
Not reported
Recent trend
↓Falling

−5.8 ft over the trend window

Recent trend

Readings this station published between Jun 2, 2026 and Jun 7, 2026 — a 5-day window — downsampled for display.

59.3ft53.5ftJun 2 – Jun 7

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).

Not for navigation or safety decisions (why →)

Source: USACE MVK/Felsenthal L&D-Lower, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →

The dam behind Felsenthal Lock and Dam Lower

Felsenthal Lock and Dam Lower is held back by Felsenthal Lock and Dam , a concrete gravity structure, resisting the reservoir by its own weight alone , standing 105 ft high and running 659 ft along its crest , built across OUACHITA in Union County , near STERLINGTON . It was completed in 1978 , and is owned by USACE - Vicksburg District (a federal owner) , to a design credited to CEMVK.

Its recorded primary purpose is navigation — the pool is held inside a narrow band to keep a navigable depth, so large swings are rare by design . It also serves navigation;recreation;water supply.

It is founded on soil, with a earth core. Its spillway is gated, so the operator can hold the pool above the spillway crest and meter what leaves. The spillway opening is 350 ft wide.

NID classes it significant hazard potential: a failure would be expected to damage property and infrastructure rather than cost lives. It is a consequence rating, not a condition rating.

At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 22,730 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 76,700 acre-ft against a normal storage of 56,300 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 200,000 cubic feet per second.

Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record AR01514 , 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 →)

Other gauges at this site

A second gauge reports at this same structure. Its readings are listed here rather than on a separate page, because it measures the same water.

Companion gauges at Felsenthal Lock and Dam Lower, with their own current readings.
Gauge Source Elevation Storage
Felsenthal Lock and Dam Upper USACE MVK/Felsenthal L&D-Upper 65.27 ft (NGVD29)

How Felsenthal Lock and Dam Lower compares nearby

4 of 6 nearby lakes with a current trend are also falling right now.

Nearby lakes

The six nearest published lakes by centroid distance (great-circle) — cross-state neighbors included.

Lakes nearest to Felsenthal Lock and Dam Lower, with current level and distance.
Lake State Level Distance
Felsenthal Lock and Dam Upper AR 65.27 ft 0 km
Bayou Darbonne Lake LA 79.71 ft 43 km
Thatcher Lock and Dam Upper AR 77.30 ft 44 km
Big Bayou AR 101.02 ft 71 km
Lake Claiborne LA 184.76 ft 81 km
Ditch Bayou Dam AR 105.27 ft 86 km

Frequently asked questions

What is the current water level of Felsenthal Lock and Dam Lower?
As of Aug 22, 2026, 1:15 PM (UTC+00:00), the pool elevation was 50.52 ft (datum NGVD29). See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
Is Felsenthal Lock and Dam Lower full right now?
Its managing agency does not publish a %-of-conservation-pool-full figure for this lake, so we show the bare level rather than estimate one.
Where does this data come from?
From USACE MVK/Felsenthal L&D-Lower, 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.