Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Lake Lanier

Lake levels

Richard B. Russell Lake, GA

water level
472.97 ft
Condition
Below average for this time of year
7-day change
+0.25 ft
Below full
2.03 ft
30-day change
-1.06 ft

Reading as of 2026-10-08 | the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Since yesterday
+0.00 ft
7-day change
+0.25 ft
30-day change
-1.06 ft
Below full
2.03 ft
1-year change
-1.17 ft

In brief

Richard B. Russell Lake stood at 472.97 feet on Oct 8, 2026, 2.03 feet below its full pool of 475 feet. That is lower than 67% of October readings since 1986.

Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Lake level timeline

472.4473.1473.9474.6475.3SEP 08SEP 13SEP 18SEP 23SEP 28OCT 03OCT 08FULL POOL 475.00 ftHIGH 474.03LOW 472.72472.97 ft

Records and averages

Current level472.97 ft
Full pool (conservation) 475.00 ft
Flood pool 480.00 ft
Record high479.79 ft (2016-01-07)
Record low469.56 ft (2009-01-21)
Average of all readings474.07 ft
Data span39 years (14,596 readings)

Level schematic

469.2471.9474.7477.4480.2FULL POOL 475.00 ft472.97 ft2.03 ftbelow full pool

Frequently asked questions

Is Richard B. Russell Lake full right now?

As of 2026-10-08, Richard B. Russell Lake sits at 472.97 ft, which is below average for this time of year. That is 2.03 ft below full pool of 475.00 ft. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 1.06 ft.

What is the water level at Richard B. Russell Lake today?

The most recent reading at Richard B. Russell Lake is 472.97 ft (2026-10-08), sourced from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.

What is the highest Richard B. Russell Lake has ever been?

The highest level for Richard B. Russell Lake in our records is 479.79 ft on 2016-01-07. The lowest is 469.56 ft on 2009-01-21. Our record covers about 39 years of readings.

Is Richard B. Russell Lake low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 33% of them, which we classify as below average for this time of year. Seasonal comparison matters more than the raw number, because most reservoirs draw down predictably through late summer and refill over winter and spring.

Why is Richard B. Russell Lake changing right now?

Reservoir levels move for four main reasons: rainfall and runoff into the basin, releases through the dam for downstream water supply, power generation or flood control, evaporation during hot months, and seasonal drawdown schedules set by the operating agency. Richard B. Russell Lake has fallen 1.06 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers directly.

How much has Richard B. Russell Lake changed over the past year?

Richard B. Russell Lake is -1.17 ft compared with this date last year (472.97 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 39 years, with a record high of 479.79 ft and a record low of 469.56 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Richard B. Russell Lake stood at 472.97 feet on Oct 8, 2026, 2.03 feet below its full pool of 475 feet. That is lower than 67% of October readings since 1986.

From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, updated daily. The sentence changes with every new reading, so quote it with its date.

Download the full record

richard-b-russell-lake-ga-water-level-history.csv

14,596 readings, Oct 23, 1986 to Oct 8, 2026. Daily readings. Columns: date, water_level_ft. 271 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Richard B. Russell Lake water level, 1986 to 2026,” data from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/ga/richard-b-russell-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.

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Source: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. All Georgia lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.