Waco Lake water level — Texas
Waco Lake in Texas was last measured at 459.96 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 2:15 AM (UTC-05:00) (USGS Water Services). That is 91.5% 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
- 91.5%
- Storage
- 173,625 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 08095550 · USACE SWF/ACTT2, 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 1,652 sq mi of contributing watershed. USACE's continuous storage record for this project begins in 1960 (3 tracked series for this project).
The dam behind Waco Lake
Waco Lake is held back by Waco Dam , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 145 ft high and running 17,400 ft along its crest , built across BOSQUE RIVER in McLennan County , near WACO . 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;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 560 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 7,270 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 969,000 acre-ft against a normal storage of 152,500 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 683,000 cubic feet per second.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record TX00016 , 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 Waco Lake compares nearby
Waco Lake is at 91.5% of conservation-pool capacity. Of the 5 nearest lakes reporting a comparable figure, 3 are fuller, and 2 are lower. The fullest nearby is Stillhouse Hollow Lake at 98.7% and the lowest is Navarro Mills Lake at 83.6%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquilla Lake | TX | 536.01 ft | 36 km |
| Whitney Lake | TX | 531.80 ft | 36 km |
| Belton Lake | TX | 593.35 ft | 59 km |
| Lake Mexia | TX | 446.93 ft | 59 km |
| Navarro Mills Lake | TX | 422.73 ft | 64 km |
| Stillhouse Hollow Lake | TX | 621.52 ft | 70 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Waco Lake?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 2:15 AM (UTC-05:00), the pool elevation was 459.96 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Waco Lake full right now?
- The source reports it at 91.5% of conservation-pool capacity as of Aug 31, 2026, 2:15 AM (UTC-05:00).
- Where does this data come from?
- From USGS site 08095550 · USACE SWF/ACTT2, 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.