Navarro Mills Lake water level — Texas

Texas · USGS · reading Aug 31, 2026, 3:00 AM (UTC-05:00) Provisional

Navarro Mills Lake in Texas was last measured at 422.73 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 3:00 AM (UTC-05:00) (USGS Water Services). That is 83.6% of conservation-pool capacity. Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−0.9 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.

Current reading Navarro Mills Lake · Texas
Pool elevation
422.73 ft

Datum NGVD29 · provisional, subject to revision. (Why datum matters →)

% of conservation pool full
83.6%
Storage
41,809 acre-ft
Recent trend
↓Falling

−0.9 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.

425.5ft422.7ftJun 2 – Aug 31

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).

Not for navigation or safety decisions (why →)

Source: USGS site 08063050 · USACE SWF/DAWT2, 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 320 sq mi of contributing watershed. USACE's continuous elevation record for this project begins in 1962 (3 tracked series for this project).

The dam behind Navarro Mills Lake

Navarro Mills Lake is held back by Navarro Mills Dam , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 87 ft high and running 7,570 ft along its crest , built across RICHLAND CREEK in Navarro County , near RICHLAND . It was completed in 1963 , and is owned by USACE - Fort Worth District (a federal owner) , to a design credited to CESWF.

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;fish and wildlife pond;recreation;water supply.

It is founded on rock;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 240 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 5,070 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 323,879 acre-ft against a normal storage of 63,300 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 217,797 cubic feet per second.

Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record TX00009 , 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 Navarro Mills Lake compares nearby

Navarro Mills Lake is at 83.6% of conservation-pool capacity. Of the 3 nearest lakes reporting a comparable figure, 3 are fuller. The fullest nearby is Richland-Chambers Reservoir at 92.5% and the lowest is Aquilla Lake at 89.7%. 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.

Lakes nearest to Navarro Mills Lake, with current level and distance.
Lake State Level Distance
Halbert Lake TX 365.23 ft 29 km
Bardwell Lake TX 419.77 ft 33 km
Lake Mexia TX 446.93 ft 36 km
Lake Waxahachie TX 528.50 ft 44 km
Richland-Chambers Reservoir TX 312.96 ft 46 km
Aquilla Lake TX 536.01 ft 49 km

Frequently asked questions

What is the current water level of Navarro Mills Lake?
As of Aug 31, 2026, 3:00 AM (UTC-05:00), the pool elevation was 422.73 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
Is Navarro Mills Lake full right now?
The source reports it at 83.6% of conservation-pool capacity as of Aug 31, 2026, 3:00 AM (UTC-05:00).
Where does this data come from?
From USGS site 08063050 · USACE SWF/DAWT2, 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.