Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Lake Murray

Lake levels

Russell Lake, SC

water level
473.17 ft
Condition
Below average for this time of year
7-day change
+0.29 ft
30-day change
-0.77 ft
1-year change
-1.42 ft

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

Since yesterday
+0.04 ft
7-day change
+0.29 ft
30-day change
-0.77 ft
1-year change
-1.42 ft
Record high
479.68 ft

In brief

Russell Lake stood at 473.17 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 74% of October readings since 2004.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Lake level timeline

472.6473.0473.4473.8474.1SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 473.97LOW 472.76473.17 ft

Records and averages

Current level473.17 ft
Record high479.68 ft (2016-01-04)
Record low469.39 ft (2009-01-20)
Average of all readings474.03 ft
Data span22 years (7,912 readings)

Level schematic

469.0471.8474.5477.3480.1PUBLISHED HIGH 479.68 ft473.17 ftPUBLISHED LOW 469.39 ft

Frequently asked questions

Is Russell Lake full right now?

As of 2026-10-12, Russell Lake sits at 473.17 ft, which is below average for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 0.77 ft.

What is the water level at Russell Lake today?

The most recent reading at Russell Lake is 473.17 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 Russell Lake has ever been?

The highest level for Russell Lake in our records is 479.68 ft on 2016-01-04. The lowest is 469.39 ft on 2009-01-20. Our record covers about 22 years of readings.

Is Russell Lake low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 26% 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 Russell 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. Russell Lake has fallen 0.77 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.

How much has Russell Lake changed over the past year?

Russell Lake is -1.42 ft compared with this date last year (473.17 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 22 years, with a record high of 479.68 ft and a record low of 469.39 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Russell Lake stood at 473.17 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 74% of October readings since 2004.

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

russell-lake-sc-water-level-history.csv

7,912 readings, Oct 1, 2004 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily readings. The longest gap since then is 104 days, from Nov 21, 2004. Columns: date, water_level_ft. 147 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Russell Lake water level, 2004 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/sc/russell-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.

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