Martin Lake water level — Texas
Martin Lake in Texas was last measured at 303.53 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 (−1.2 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- Not reported
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−1.2 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 08022060, 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 130 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Martin Lake
Martin Lake is held back by Martin Lake Dam (also recorded as Martin Lake Steam Electric Station Dam) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 61 ft high and running 6,875 ft along its crest , built across MARTIN CREEK in Rusk County , near TATUM . It was completed in 1974 , and is owned by VISTRA CORP (a private owner) , to a design credited to FORREST AND COTTON.
Its recorded primary purpose is recreation — holding a stable pool through the season is an operating goal, so a level well off normal in summer is unusual rather than routine . It also serves recreation;other.
It is founded on soil, with a earth core. Its outlet works use other controlled1;slide (sluice gate)2;uncontrolled1.
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 satisfactory — no deficiencies recognised for expected loading. That assessment is dated 06/18/2014.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 5,440 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 182,300 acre-ft against a normal storage of 75,116 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 65,300 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by TCEQ.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record TX03547 , 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 Martin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Cherokee | TX | 278.43 ft | 14 km |
| Murvaul Lake | TX | 264.19 ft | 30 km |
| Little Cypress | TX | 235.76 ft | 48 km |
| Little Cypress | TX | 176.84 ft | 53 km |
| Big Cypress | TX | 183.61 ft | 53 km |
| Lake Striker | TX | 291.43 ft | 54 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Martin Lake?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 2:30 AM (UTC-05:00), the pool elevation was 303.53 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Martin 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 08022060, 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.