Lake Mendocino-Pool water level — California
Lake Mendocino-Pool in California was last measured at 735.78 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 8:00 AM (UTC+00:00) (USACE CWMS Data). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−1.6 ft).
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- 65,571 acre-ft
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−1.6 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 SPK/Lake Mendocino-Pool, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →
The dam behind Lake Mendocino-Pool
Lake Mendocino-Pool is held back by Coyote Valley Dam (also recorded as Lake Mendocino) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 180 ft high and running 3,525 ft along its crest , built across EAST FORK RUSSIAN RIVER in Mendocino County , near UKIAH . It was completed in 1959 , and is owned by USACE - San Francisco District (a federal owner) , to a design credited to CESPN.
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 soil, with a earth core. Its spillway is ungated: once the pool reaches the crest, water leaves on its own and the operator cannot hold it back. The spillway opening is 250 ft wide. Its outlet works use none0.
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 1,740 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 155,500 acre-ft against a normal storage of 74,500 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 35,800 cubic feet per second.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record CA10201 , 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 Lake Mendocino-Pool compares nearby
All 5 nearby lakes with a current trend are also falling, suggesting a regional pattern rather than an operation specific to this dam.
Nearby lakes
The six nearest published lakes by centroid distance (great-circle) — cross-state neighbors included.
| Lake | State | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Lake a Lakeport | CA | 1,324.02 ft | 29 km |
| Lake Sonoma-Pool | CA | 449.04 ft | 55 km |
| Indian Valley Reservoir a Clearlake Oaks | CA | 1,459.25 ft | 57 km |
| Black Butte Lake | CA | — | 97 km |
| Black Butte Lake-Pool | CA | 446.33 ft | 100 km |
| Lake Oroville & Dam | CA | 789.74 ft | 151 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Lake Mendocino-Pool?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 8:00 AM (UTC+00:00), the pool elevation was 735.78 ft (datum NGVD29). See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Lake Mendocino-Pool 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 SPK/Lake Mendocino-Pool, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in California
See every lake tracked in California, or read the methodology behind these figures.