Sam Rayburn Reservoir water level — Texas
Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas was last measured at 155.21 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 3:00 AM (UTC-05:00) (USGS Water Services). That is 67.7% of conservation-pool capacity. 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
- 67.7%
- Storage
- 1,954,234 acre-ft
- 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 08039300 · USACE SWF/JSPT2, 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 3,449 sq mi of contributing watershed. USACE's continuous elevation record for this project begins in 1965 (3 tracked series for this project).
The dam behind Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Sam Rayburn Reservoir is held back by Sam Rayburn Dam (also recorded as Mcgee Bend Reservoir) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 130 ft high and running 12,400 ft along its crest , built across ANGELINA RIVER in Jasper County , near EVADALE . It was completed in 1965 , 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;hydroelectric;water supply.
It is founded on rock;soil, with 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 680 ft wide. Its outlet works use uncontrolled0.
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 114,500 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 6,520,000 acre-ft against a normal storage of 2,898,200 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 227,700 cubic feet per second.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record TX00011 , 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 Sam Rayburn Reservoir 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| B. A. Steinhagen Lake at Town Bluff | TX | 82.93 ft | 30 km |
| Toledo Bd Reservoir | LA | 168.81 ft | 53 km |
| Toledo Bend Reservoir | TX | 168.71 ft | 61 km |
| Lake Nacogdoches | TX | 276.73 ft | 90 km |
| Livingston Reservoir | TX | 129.61 ft | 99 km |
| Bundick Lake | LA | 95.07 ft | 103 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Sam Rayburn Reservoir?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 3:00 AM (UTC-05:00), the pool elevation was 155.21 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Sam Rayburn Reservoir full right now?
- The source reports it at 67.7% of conservation-pool capacity as of Aug 31, 2026, 3:00 AM (UTC-05:00).
- Where does this data come from?
- From USGS site 08039300 · USACE SWF/JSPT2, 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.