Waterbury Reservoir water level — Vermont

Vermont · USGS · reading Aug 31, 2026, 3:45 AM (UTC-04:00) Provisional

Waterbury Reservoir in Vermont was last measured at 589.50 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 3:45 AM (UTC-04:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been steady (+0.0 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.

Current reading Waterbury Reservoir · Vermont
Pool elevation
589.50 ft

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

% of conservation pool full
Not reported
Storage
Not reported
Recent trend
→Steady

+0.0 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.

594.8ft589.0ftJun 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 04288500, 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 109 sq mi of contributing watershed.

The dam behind Waterbury Reservoir

Waterbury Reservoir is held back by Waterbury (also recorded as Little River) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 187 ft high and running 2,130 ft along its crest , built across LITTLE RIVER in Washington County , near WATERBURY . It was completed in 1938 , and is owned by STATE OF VERMONT - DEC (a state owner) , to a design credited to USACE.

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;recreation;hydroelectric.

It is founded on rock;soil, with a earth core.

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.

At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 850 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 88,000 acre-ft against a normal storage of 0 acre-ft.

Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record VT00027 , filed by Vermont — 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 Waterbury Reservoir compares nearby

None of the 6 nearby lakes with a current trend are steady right now — this lake's movement looks specific to its own operation rather than shared regional conditions.

Nearby lakes

The six nearest published lakes by centroid distance (great-circle) — cross-state neighbors included.

Lakes nearest to Waterbury Reservoir, with current level and distance.
Lake State Level Distance
Wrightsville Detention Reservoir VT 634.13 ft 17 km
East Barre Detention Reservoir at East Barre VT 1,132.36 ft 36 km
Lake Champlain at Burlington VT 94.57 ft 37 km
Lake Champlain at Port Henry NY 94.45 ft 66 km
Lake Memphremagog at Newport VT 680.79 ft 76 km
Union Village Dam VT 426.00 ft 77 km

Frequently asked questions

What is the current water level of Waterbury Reservoir?
As of Aug 31, 2026, 3:45 AM (UTC-04:00), the pool elevation was 589.50 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
Is Waterbury Reservoir 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 04288500, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).

More in Vermont

See every lake tracked in Vermont, or read the methodology behind these figures.