What is the current water level of Salton Sea?

As of Aug 31, 2026, 12:45 AM (UTC-07:00), the pool elevation was -244.15 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.

Is Salton Sea 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.

Salton Sea water level — California

California · USGS · reading Aug 31, 2026, 12:45 AM (UTC-07:00) Provisional

Salton Sea in California was last measured at -244.15 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 12:45 AM (UTC-07:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−0.3 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.

Current reading Salton Sea · California

Pool elevation: -244.15 ft
% of conservation pool full: Not reported
Storage: Not reported
Recent trend: ↓Falling

Recent trend

Readings this station published between Jun 2, 2026 and Aug 31, 2026 — a 89-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).

Not for navigation or safety decisions (why →)

Source: USGS site 10254005, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →

About this gauge's record

This site's drainage basin covers approximately 8,360 sq mi of contributing watershed.

How Salton Sea compares nearby

5 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 Salton Sea, with current level and distance.
Lake	State	Level	Distance
El Capitan Reservoir	CA	638.84 ft	97 km
San Vicente Reservoir	CA	662.06 ft	107 km
Vail Lake	CA	1,418.14 ft	111 km
Seven Oaks Dam	CA	2,220.00 ft	155 km
Mojave Dam	CA	2,989.32 ft	182 km
Prado Dam	CA	471.65 ft	184 km

Frequently asked questions

What is the current water level of Salton Sea?: As of Aug 31, 2026, 12:45 AM (UTC-07:00), the pool elevation was -244.15 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
Is Salton Sea 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 USGS site 10254005, 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.