Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Cowlitz River at Randle

Lake levels

Lake Merwin, WA

water level
229.83 ft
Condition
Low for this time of year
7-day change
-0.17 ft
30-day change
-2.32 ft
1-year change
-0.17 ft

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

Since yesterday
+0.04 ft
7-day change
-0.17 ft
30-day change
-2.32 ft
1-year change
-0.17 ft
Record high
239.43 ft

In brief

Lake Merwin stood at 229.83 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 92% of October readings since 2017.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Lake level timeline

228.6229.6230.6231.6232.6SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 232.15LOW 229.00229.83 ft

Records and averages

Current level229.83 ft
Record high239.43 ft (2019-04-20)
Record low218.52 ft (2022-01-25)
Average of all readings234.68 ft
Data span9 years (3,292 readings)

Level schematic

217.7223.3229.0234.6240.3PUBLISHED HIGH 239.43 ft229.83 ftPUBLISHED LOW 218.52 ft

Trout stocking on Lake Merwin

WDFW stocked Lake Merwin 7 times in 2026, 57,771 fish in total. Kokanee and Tiger Muskie and Rainbow at Legals.

SpeciesFish SizeWhen
Kokanee 5,710 Legals February 2026
Tiger Muskie 1,950 Legals April 2026
Rainbow 1,732 Legals July 2026
Rainbow 821 Legals July 2026
Rainbow 1,732 Legals July 2026
Rainbow 826 Legals July 2026
Kokanee 45,000 Legals October 2026

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Lake Merwin full right now?

As of 2026-10-12, Lake Merwin sits at 229.83 ft, which is low for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 2.32 ft.

What is the water level at Lake Merwin today?

The most recent reading at Lake Merwin is 229.83 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 Lake Merwin has ever been?

The highest level for Lake Merwin in our records is 239.43 ft on 2019-04-20. The lowest is 218.52 ft on 2022-01-25. Our record covers about 9 years of readings.

Is Lake Merwin low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 8% of them, which we classify as low 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 Lake Merwin low 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. Lake Merwin has fallen 2.32 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.

How much has Lake Merwin changed over the past year?

Lake Merwin is -0.17 ft compared with this date last year (229.83 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 9 years, with a record high of 239.43 ft and a record low of 218.52 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Lake Merwin stood at 229.83 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 92% of October readings since 2017.

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

lake-merwin-wa-water-level-history.csv

3,292 readings, Sep 30, 2017 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily readings. Columns: date, water_level_ft. 61 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Lake Merwin water level, 2017 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/wa/lake-merwin/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.

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