What is the current water level of Houghton Lake?

As of Aug 31, 2026, 2:15 AM (UTC-05:00), the pool elevation was 1,137.78 ft (datum NAVD88), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.

Is Houghton 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.

Houghton Lake water level — Michigan

Michigan · USGS · reading Aug 31, 2026, 2:15 AM (UTC-05:00) Provisional

Houghton Lake in Michigan was last measured at 1,137.78 ft (datum NAVD88), as of Aug 31, 2026, 2:15 AM (UTC-05:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−0.2 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.

Current reading Houghton Lake · Michigan

Pool elevation: 1,137.78 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 442400084472801, 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 222 sq mi of contributing watershed.

How Houghton Lake compares nearby

2 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 Houghton Lake, with current level and distance.
Lake	State	Level	Distance
Higgins Lake	MI	1,153.77 ft	9 km
Lake St Helen	MI	1,154.94 ft	29 km
Otsego Lake	MI	1,273.31 ft	59 km
Van Etten Lake at Oscoda	MI	589.30 ft	115 km
Mullett Lake	MI	593.11 ft	133 km
Austin Lake	MI	855.27 ft	254 km

Frequently asked questions

What is the current water level of Houghton Lake?: As of Aug 31, 2026, 2:15 AM (UTC-05:00), the pool elevation was 1,137.78 ft (datum NAVD88), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
Is Houghton 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 USGS site 442400084472801, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).

More in Michigan

See every lake tracked in Michigan, or read the methodology behind these figures.