
Lake levels
Spirit Lake (Iowa), IA
- gauge height
- 14.26 ft
- Condition
- High for this time of year
- 7-day change
- -0.04 ft
- 30-day change
- +0.14 ft
- 1-year change
- +0.31 ft
Reading as of 2026-10-12 | the U.S. Geological Survey
- Since yesterday
- +0.00 ft
- 7-day change
- -0.04 ft
- 30-day change
- +0.14 ft
- 1-year change
- +0.31 ft
- Record high
- 18.79 ft
In brief
Spirit Lake (Iowa)'s gauge read 14.26 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is higher than 84% 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
Records and averages
| Current level | 14.26 ft |
|---|---|
| Record high | 18.79 ft (1993-07-18) |
| Record low | 6.75 ft (1935-10-30) |
| Average of all readings | 13.34 ft |
| Data span | 93 years (24,122 readings) |
Level schematic
Frequently asked questions
Is Spirit Lake (Iowa) full right now?
As of 2026-10-12, Spirit Lake (Iowa) sits at 14.26 ft, which is high for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has risen 0.14 ft.
What is the water level at Spirit Lake (Iowa) today?
The most recent reading at Spirit Lake (Iowa) is 14.26 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 Spirit Lake (Iowa) has ever been?
The highest level for Spirit Lake (Iowa) in our records is 18.79 ft on 1993-07-18. The lowest is 6.75 ft on 1935-10-30. Our record covers about 93 years of readings.
Is Spirit Lake (Iowa) low for this time of year?
Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 84% 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 Spirit 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. Spirit Lake (Iowa) has risen 0.14 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.
How much has Spirit Lake (Iowa) changed over the past year?
Spirit Lake (Iowa) is +0.31 ft compared with this date last year (14.26 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 93 years, with a record high of 18.79 ft and a record low of 6.75 ft.
Download and cite
Quote this reading
Spirit Lake (Iowa)'s gauge read 14.26 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is higher than 84% of October readings since 1933.
Download the full record
spirit-lake-iowa-ia-water-level-history.csv
How to cite
MyWaterLevel, “Spirit Lake (Iowa) water level, 1933 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/ia/spirit-lake-iowa/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.
Source: the U.S. Geological Survey. All Iowa lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.