Fern Ridge Lake water level — Oregon
Fern Ridge Lake in Oregon was last measured at 368.67 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 1:10 AM (UTC-07:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−1.1 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- Not reported
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−1.1 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 14168000, 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 252 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Fern Ridge Lake
Fern Ridge Lake is held back by Fern Ridge Dam (also recorded as Fern Ridge Lake) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 49 ft high and running 6,610 ft along its crest , built across LONG TOM RIVER in Lane County , near EUGENE . It was completed in 1941 , and is owned by USACE - Portland District (a federal owner) , to a design credited to CENWP.
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;other;irrigation;navigation;fish and wildlife pond;recreation.
It is founded on soil, with a earth core. Its spillway is gated, so the operator can hold the pool above the spillway crest and meter what leaves. The spillway opening is 294 ft wide. Its outlet works use slide (sluice gate)5;tainter (radial)6.
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 9,360 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 121,000 acre-ft against a normal storage of 102,200 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 45,000 cubic feet per second.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record OR00016 , 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 Fern Ridge Lake compares nearby
4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dexter Lake at Dexter | OR | 692.05 ft | 45 km |
| Dorena Lake | OR | 818.32 ft | 46 km |
| Fall Creek Lake | OR | 794.86 ft | 48 km |
| Cottage Grove Lake | OR | 774.54 ft | 49 km |
| Lookout Point Lake | OR | 842.93 ft | 50 km |
| Foster Lake at Foster | OR | 636.79 ft | 60 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Fern Ridge Lake?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 1:10 AM (UTC-07:00), the pool elevation was 368.67 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Fern Ridge 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 14168000, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in Oregon
See every lake tracked in Oregon, or read the methodology behind these figures.