Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Black Hawk Lake

Lake levels

Lake Panorama, IA

gauge height
45.50 ft
Condition
High for this time of year
7-day change
+0.07 ft
30-day change
-0.02 ft
1-year change
+0.30 ft

Reading as of 2026-10-13 | the U.S. Geological Survey

Since yesterday
+0.02 ft
7-day change
+0.07 ft
30-day change
-0.02 ft
1-year change
+0.30 ft
Record high
49.70 ft

In brief

Lake Panorama's gauge read 45.50 feet on Oct 13, 2026. That is higher than 82% of October readings since 1979.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

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

Lake level timeline

44.945.245.645.946.2SEP 13SEP 18SEP 23SEP 28OCT 03OCT 08OCT 13HIGH 45.68LOW 45.4345.50 ft

Records and averages

Current level45.50 ft
Record high49.70 ft (1986-06-30)
Record low40.93 ft (1996-10-08)
Average of all readings45.25 ft
Data span47 years (8,577 readings)

Level schematic

40.642.945.347.750.1PUBLISHED HIGH 49.70 ft45.50 ftPUBLISHED LOW 40.93 ft

Frequently asked questions

Is Lake Panorama full right now?

As of 2026-10-13, Lake Panorama sits at 45.50 ft, which is high for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 0.02 ft.

What is the water level at Lake Panorama today?

The most recent reading at Lake Panorama is 45.50 ft (2026-10-13), sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.

What is the highest Lake Panorama has ever been?

The highest level for Lake Panorama in our records is 49.70 ft on 1986-06-30. The lowest is 40.93 ft on 1996-10-08. Our record covers about 47 years of readings.

Is Lake Panorama low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 82% of them, which we classify as high 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 Lake Panorama 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. Lake Panorama has fallen 0.02 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.

How much has Lake Panorama changed over the past year?

Lake Panorama is +0.30 ft compared with this date last year (45.50 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 47 years, with a record high of 49.70 ft and a record low of 40.93 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Lake Panorama's gauge read 45.50 feet on Oct 13, 2026. That is higher than 82% of October readings since 1979.

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

lake-panorama-ia-water-level-history.csv

8,577 readings, May 17, 1979 to Oct 13, 2026. Daily readings. The longest gap since then is 8240 days, from Sep 29, 2003. Columns: date, gauge_height_ft. 151 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Lake Panorama water level, 1979 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/ia/lake-panorama/, 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.