Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Grand Traverse Bay

Lake levels

Austin Lake, MI

gauge height
5.84 ft
Condition
About average for this time of year
7-day change
-0.06 ft
30-day change
+0.09 ft
1-year change
+0.28 ft

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

Since yesterday
+0.01 ft
7-day change
-0.06 ft
30-day change
+0.09 ft
1-year change
+0.28 ft
Record high
6.72 ft

In brief

Austin Lake's gauge read 5.84 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 60% of October readings since 2001.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

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

Lake level timeline

5.25.55.86.16.5SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 5.94LOW 5.715.84 ft

Records and averages

Current level5.84 ft
Record high6.72 ft (2016-08-16)
Record low4.98 ft (2005-11-14)
Average of all readings6.05 ft
Data span25 years (8,903 readings)

Level schematic

4.905.385.856.336.80PUBLISHED HIGH 6.72 ft5.84 ftPUBLISHED LOW 4.98 ft

Frequently asked questions

Is Austin Lake full right now?

As of 2026-10-12, Austin Lake sits at 5.84 ft, which is about average for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has risen 0.09 ft.

What is the water level at Austin Lake today?

The most recent reading at Austin Lake is 5.84 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 Austin Lake has ever been?

The highest level for Austin Lake in our records is 6.72 ft on 2016-08-16. The lowest is 4.98 ft on 2005-11-14. Our record covers about 25 years of readings.

Is Austin Lake low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 40% of them, which we classify as about 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 Austin 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. Austin Lake has risen 0.09 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.

How much has Austin Lake changed over the past year?

Austin Lake is +0.28 ft compared with this date last year (5.84 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 25 years, with a record high of 6.72 ft and a record low of 4.98 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Austin Lake's gauge read 5.84 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 60% of October readings since 2001.

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

austin-lake-mi-water-level-history.csv

8,903 readings, Oct 1, 2001 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily from 2003, less frequent before. The longest gap since then is 15 days, from Jan 23, 2005. Columns: date, gauge_height_ft. 148 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Austin Lake water level, 2001 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/mi/austin-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.

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