Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Grand Traverse Bay

Lake levels

Otsego Lake, MI

gauge height
3.65 ft
Condition
High for this time of year
7-day change
-0.04 ft
30-day change
-0.01 ft
1-year change
+0.53 ft

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

Since yesterday
+0.01 ft
7-day change
-0.04 ft
30-day change
-0.01 ft
1-year change
+0.53 ft
Record high
4.57 ft

In brief

Otsego Lake's gauge read 3.65 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is higher than 96% of October readings since 1986.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

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

Lake level timeline

3.13.43.74.04.4SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 3.81LOW 3.643.65 ft

Records and averages

Current level3.65 ft
Record high4.57 ft (2026-04-18)
Record low0.99 ft (2003-09-30)
Average of all readings2.93 ft
Data span40 years (14,302 readings)

Level schematic

0.851.812.783.754.71PUBLISHED HIGH 4.57 ft3.65 ftPUBLISHED LOW 0.99 ft

Trout stocking on Otsego Lake

Michigan DNR stocked Otsego Lake 2 times in 2026, 1,244,621 fish in total. Walleye and Muskellunge at 0.5 and 25.8.

SpeciesFish SizeWhen
Walleye 1,244,000 0.5 April 2026
Muskellunge 621 25.8 June 2026

Michigan DNR lists a week or a month rather than a date, and counts fish as an estimate. Full Michigan stocking schedule →

Frequently asked questions

Is Otsego Lake full right now?

As of 2026-10-12, Otsego Lake sits at 3.65 ft, which is high for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 0.01 ft.

What is the water level at Otsego Lake today?

The most recent reading at Otsego Lake is 3.65 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 Otsego Lake has ever been?

The highest level for Otsego Lake in our records is 4.57 ft on 2026-04-18. The lowest is 0.99 ft on 2003-09-30. Our record covers about 40 years of readings.

Is Otsego Lake low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 96% 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 Otsego 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. Otsego Lake has fallen 0.01 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.

How much has Otsego Lake changed over the past year?

Otsego Lake is +0.53 ft compared with this date last year (3.65 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 40 years, with a record high of 4.57 ft and a record low of 0.99 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Otsego Lake's gauge read 3.65 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is higher than 96% of October readings since 1986.

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

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

14,302 readings, Oct 1, 1986 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily readings. The longest gap since then is 76 days, from May 1, 2011. Columns: date, gauge_height_ft. 237 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Otsego Lake water level, 1986 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/mi/otsego-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.