Clearwater Lake water level — Missouri
Clearwater Lake in Missouri was last measured at 497.16 ft (datum NAVD88), as of Aug 31, 2026, 2:30 AM (UTC-05:00) (USGS Water Services). That is 100% of conservation-pool capacity. Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−0.6 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- 100%
- Storage
- Not reported
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−0.6 ft over the trend window
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).
Source: USGS site 07062000 · USACE SWL/Clearwater_Dam-Headwater, 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 898 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Clearwater Lake
Clearwater Lake is held back by Clearwater Dam (also recorded as Clearwater Lake) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 155 ft high and running 4,225 ft along its crest , built across BLACK in Wayne County , near LEEPER . It was completed in 1942 , and is owned by USACE - Little Rock District (a federal owner) , to a design credited to CESWL.
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.
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 385 ft wide.
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 1,630 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 413,000 acre-ft against a normal storage of 22,000 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 310,000 cubic feet per second.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record MO30203 , filed by US Army Corps of Engineers — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, public domain. Water levels above come from USGS Water Services and are a separate source. (How this dam was matched to this gauge →)
How Clearwater Lake 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.
| Lake | State | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patterson | MO | 376.50 ft | 25 km |
| Sam a Baker Park | MO | 409.37 ft | 28 km |
| Saco | MO | 475.00 ft | 39 km |
| Wappapello Pool | MO | 360.61 ft | 49 km |
| Millcreek | MO | 558.46 ft | 50 km |
| Roselle | MO | 687.50 ft | 57 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Clearwater Lake?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 2:30 AM (UTC-05:00), the pool elevation was 497.16 ft (datum NAVD88), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Clearwater Lake full right now?
- The source reports it at 100% of conservation-pool capacity as of Aug 31, 2026, 2:30 AM (UTC-05:00).
- Where does this data come from?
- From USGS site 07062000 · USACE SWL/Clearwater_Dam-Headwater, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in Missouri
See every lake tracked in Missouri, or read the methodology behind these figures.