Lahontan Reservoir water level — Nevada
Lahontan Reservoir in Nevada was last measured at 4,136.47 ft (datum NAVD88), as of Aug 31, 2026, 12:30 AM (UTC-07:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−7.4 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- 107,400 acre-ft
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−7.4 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 10312100, 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 1,799 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Lahontan Reservoir
Lahontan Reservoir is held back by Lahontan Dam (also recorded as Lahontan Reservoir) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 162 ft high and running 1,915 ft along its crest , built across CARSON RIVER in Churchill County , near FALLON . It was completed in 1915 and modified in 1985S , and is owned by BUREAU OF RECLAMATION (a federal owner) , to a design credited to BUREAU OF RECLAMATION.
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;irrigation;recreation;hydroelectric.
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 400 ft wide. Its outlet works use needle1;other controlled2;valve2.
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 15,000 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 422,800 acre-ft against a normal storage of 317,200 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 17,000 cubic feet per second.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record NV10123 , filed by Bureau of Reclamation — 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 Lahontan Reservoir compares nearby
All 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Reservoir | NV | — | 50 km |
| Marlette Lake | NV | — | 79 km |
| Boca Reservoir | CA | 5,593.97 ft | 89 km |
| Stampede Reservoir | CA | 5,922.31 ft | 89 km |
| Walker Lake | NV | — | 91 km |
| Martis Creek-Pool | CA | 5,781.49 ft | 91 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Lahontan Reservoir?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 12:30 AM (UTC-07:00), the pool elevation was 4,136.47 ft (datum NAVD88), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Lahontan Reservoir 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 10312100, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in Nevada
See every lake tracked in Nevada, or read the methodology behind these figures.