Lake Conditions
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Lake levels

Clear Lake (Iowa), IA

gauge height
4.67 ft
Condition
Above average for this time of year
7-day change
-0.05 ft
30-day change
+0.13 ft
1-year change
+0.05 ft

Reading as of 2026-10-12 | the U.S. Geological Survey

Since yesterday
+0.00 ft
7-day change
-0.05 ft
30-day change
+0.13 ft
1-year change
+0.05 ft
Record high
5.96 ft

In brief

Clear Lake (Iowa)'s gauge read 4.67 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is higher than 78% of October readings since 1933.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Gauge height above a local reference point; not elevation above sea level.

Lake level timeline

4.04.34.65.05.3SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 4.77LOW 4.514.67 ft

Records and averages

Current level4.67 ft
Record high5.96 ft (2008-06-13)
Record low0.78 ft (1989-10-26)
Average of all readings4.22 ft
Data span93 years (28,383 readings)

Level schematic

0.571.973.374.776.17PUBLISHED HIGH 5.96 ft4.67 ftPUBLISHED LOW 0.78 ft

Frequently asked questions

Is Clear Lake (Iowa) full right now?

As of 2026-10-12, Clear Lake (Iowa) sits at 4.67 ft, which is above average for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has risen 0.13 ft.

What is the water level at Clear Lake (Iowa) today?

The most recent reading at Clear Lake (Iowa) is 4.67 ft (2026-10-12), sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.

What is the highest Clear Lake (Iowa) has ever been?

The highest level for Clear Lake (Iowa) in our records is 5.96 ft on 2008-06-13. The lowest is 0.78 ft on 1989-10-26. Our record covers about 93 years of readings.

Is Clear Lake (Iowa) low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 78% of them, which we classify as above 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 Clear Lake (Iowa) 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. Clear Lake (Iowa) has risen 0.13 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.

How much has Clear Lake (Iowa) changed over the past year?

Clear Lake (Iowa) is +0.05 ft compared with this date last year (4.67 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 93 years, with a record high of 5.96 ft and a record low of 0.78 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Clear Lake (Iowa)'s gauge read 4.67 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is higher than 78% of October readings since 1933.

From the U.S. Geological Survey, updated daily. The sentence changes with every new reading, so quote it with its date.

Download the full record

clear-lake-iowa-ia-water-level-history.csv

28,383 readings, May 20, 1933 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily from 1960, less frequent before. The longest gap since then is 115 days, from Dec 18, 1988. Columns: date, gauge_height_ft. 471 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Clear Lake (Iowa) water level, 1933 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/ia/clear-lake-iowa/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.

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Source: the U.S. Geological Survey. All Iowa lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.