Lake Abilene water level — Texas
Lake Abilene in Texas was last measured at 1,992.75 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 2:30 AM (UTC-05:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−1.4 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- Not reported
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−1.4 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 08083270, 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 102 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Lake Abilene
Lake Abilene is held back by Lake Abilene Dam , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 64 ft high and running 5,040 ft along its crest , built across ELM CREEK in Taylor County , near BUFFALO GAP . It was completed in 1921 and modified in 1981O , and is owned by CITY OF ABILENE (a local government owner) , to a design credited to J D TRAMMEL ET AL;J D TRAMMEL ET AL.
Its recorded primary purpose is water supply — delivering water to its customers comes first, so drawdown here follows demand as much as it follows rainfall . It also serves water supply;recreation.
It has 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 1,410 ft wide. Its outlet works use uncontrolled3;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. Its most recent condition assessment was poor — a deficiency was recognised that needs attention. That assessment is dated 01/31/2025.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 583 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 15,990 acre-ft against a normal storage of 7,923 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 214,401 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by TCEQ.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record TX02692 , filed by Texas — 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 Lake Abilene compares nearby
All 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirby Lake at Abilene | TX | 1,782.38 ft | 22 km |
| Oak Creek Reservoir | TX | 1,974.19 ft | 42 km |
| Ft Phantom Hill Reservoir | TX | 1,629.75 ft | 45 km |
| Lake Coleman | TX | 1,713.27 ft | 46 km |
| Hords Creek Lake | TX | 1,889.04 ft | 54 km |
| E. V. Spence Reservoir | TX | 1,842.98 ft | 71 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Lake Abilene?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 2:30 AM (UTC-05:00), the pool elevation was 1,992.75 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Lake Abilene 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 08083270, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in Texas
See every lake tracked in Texas, or read the methodology behind these figures.