Lake Conditions
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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

13.613.914.214.514.8SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 14.33LOW 14.0614.26 ft

Records and averages

Current level14.26 ft
Record high18.79 ft (1993-07-18)
Record low6.75 ft (1935-10-30)
Average of all readings13.34 ft
Data span93 years (24,122 readings)

Level schematic

6.39.512.816.019.3PUBLISHED HIGH 18.79 ft14.26 ftPUBLISHED LOW 6.75 ft

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.

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

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

24,122 readings, May 17, 1933 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily from 1949, less frequent before. The longest gap since then is 5294 days, from Sep 29, 1975. Columns: date, gauge_height_ft. 423 KB.

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.

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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.