Larto Lake water level — Louisiana
Larto Lake in Louisiana was last measured at 36.57 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 7:00 AM (UTC+00:00) (USACE CWMS Data). Over its recent trend window the level has been rising (+1.7 ft).
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- Not reported
- Recent trend
- ↑Rising
+1.7 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 MVK/Larto Lake, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →
The dam behind Larto Lake
Larto Lake is held back by Larto Lake Dam (also recorded as Department of Wildlife and Fisheries) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 38 ft high and running 2,930 ft along its crest , built across Larto Bayou in Catahoula County , near Delhoste . It was completed in 1959 , and is owned by State of Louisiana (a state owner) , to a design credited to LA Dept of Public Works.
Its recorded primary purpose is recreation — holding a stable pool through the season is an operating goal, so a level well off normal in summer is unusual rather than routine .
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 60 ft wide. Its outlet works use slide (sluice gate).
NID classes it low hazard potential: a failure would be expected to damage little beyond the owner's own property. It is a consequence rating, not a condition rating. Its most recent condition assessment was fair: sound under normal loading, though a rare or extreme event could expose a deficiency. That assessment is dated 07/24/2020.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 8,200 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 126,000 acre-ft against a normal storage of 15,000 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 4,407 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by LA DOTD.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record LA00023 , filed by Louisiana — 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 Larto Lake compares nearby
5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Lock and Dam #1 Lower | LA | 15.87 ft | 12 km |
| Red Lock and Dam #1 Upper | LA | 40.30 ft | 12 km |
| Tensas Cocodrie Pump Landside | LA | 25.92 ft | 15 km |
| Jonesville Lock and Dam Upper | LA | 35.32 ft | 16 km |
| Jonesville Lock and Dam Lower | LA | 16.33 ft | 16 km |
| Wild Cow Weir Upper | LA | 33.42 ft | 19 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Larto Lake?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 7:00 AM (UTC+00:00), the pool elevation was 36.57 ft (datum NGVD29). See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Larto Lake 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/Larto Lake, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in Louisiana
See every lake tracked in Louisiana, or read the methodology behind these figures.