Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Lake McConaughy

Lake levels

Hugh Butler Lake, NE

water level
2564.68 ft
Condition
Below average for this time of year
7-day change
-0.07 ft
30-day change
-0.10 ft
1-year change
-0.43 ft

Reading as of 2026-10-12 | the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Since yesterday
-0.02 ft
7-day change
-0.07 ft
30-day change
-0.10 ft
1-year change
-0.43 ft
Record high
2572.03 ft

In brief

Hugh Butler Lake stood at 2,564.68 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 63% of October readings since 2021.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Lake level timeline

2564.12564.42564.72565.02565.4SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 2564.84LOW 2564.612564.68 ft

Records and averages

Current level2564.68 ft
Record high2572.03 ft (2021-06-03)
Record low2559.87 ft (2022-10-18)
Average of all readings2565.47 ft
Data span5 years (2,000 readings)

Level schematic

2,559.42,562.72,565.92,569.22,572.5PUBLISHED HIGH 2,572.03 ft2,564.68 ftPUBLISHED LOW 2,559.87 ft

Frequently asked questions

Is Hugh Butler Lake full right now?

As of 2026-10-12, Hugh Butler Lake sits at 2564.68 ft, which is below average for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 0.10 ft.

What is the water level at Hugh Butler Lake today?

The most recent reading at Hugh Butler Lake is 2564.68 ft (2026-10-12), sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.

What is the highest Hugh Butler Lake has ever been?

The highest level for Hugh Butler Lake in our records is 2572.03 ft on 2021-06-03. The lowest is 2559.87 ft on 2022-10-18. Our record covers about 5 years of readings.

Is Hugh Butler Lake low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 37% of them, which we classify as below 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 Hugh Butler 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. Hugh Butler Lake has fallen 0.10 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation directly.

How much has Hugh Butler Lake changed over the past year?

Hugh Butler Lake is -0.43 ft compared with this date last year (2564.68 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 5 years, with a record high of 2572.03 ft and a record low of 2559.87 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Hugh Butler Lake stood at 2,564.68 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 63% of October readings since 2021.

From the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, updated daily. The sentence changes with every new reading, so quote it with its date.

Download the full record

hugh-butler-lake-ne-water-level-history.csv

2,000 readings, Apr 22, 2021 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily readings. Columns: date, water_level_ft. 39 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Hugh Butler Lake water level, 2021 to 2026,” data from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/ne/hugh-butler-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.

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Source: the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. All Nebraska lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.