Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Cowlitz River at Randle

Lake levels

Potholes Reservoir, WA

water level
1028.99 ft
Condition
High for this time of year
7-day change
+0.33 ft
30-day change
+0.32 ft
1-year change
+0.38 ft

Reading as of 2026-09-30 | the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Since yesterday
-0.05 ft
7-day change
+0.33 ft
30-day change
+0.32 ft
1-year change
+0.38 ft
Record high
1046.62 ft

In brief

Potholes Reservoir stood at 1,028.99 feet on Sep 30, 2026. That is higher than 92% of September readings since 2022.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Lake level timeline

1027.61028.01028.41028.81029.2AUG 31SEP 05SEP 10SEP 15SEP 20SEP 25SEP 30HIGH 1029.04LOW 1027.821028.99 ft

Records and averages

Current level1028.99 ft
Record high1046.62 ft (2026-05-17)
Record low1025.85 ft (2025-09-03)
Average of all readings1038.92 ft
Data span4 years (2,000 readings)

Level schematic

1,025.01,030.61,036.21,041.81,047.5PUBLISHED HIGH 1,046.62 ft1,028.99 ftPUBLISHED LOW 1,025.85 ft

Trout stocking on Potholes Reservoir

WDFW stocked Potholes Reservoir 4 times in 2026, 75,250 fish in total. Rainbow and Channel Catfish at Fry and Legals.

SpeciesFish SizeWhen
Rainbow 71,000 Fry March 2026
Channel Catfish 950 Legals May 2026
Rainbow 250 Legals May 2026
Channel Catfish 3,050 Legals June 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 Potholes Reservoir full right now?

As of 2026-09-30, Potholes Reservoir sits at 1028.99 ft, which is high for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has risen 0.32 ft.

What is the water level at Potholes Reservoir today?

The most recent reading at Potholes Reservoir is 1028.99 ft (2026-09-30), sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.

What is the highest Potholes Reservoir has ever been?

The highest level for Potholes Reservoir in our records is 1046.62 ft on 2026-05-17. The lowest is 1025.85 ft on 2025-09-03. Our record covers about 4 years of readings.

Is Potholes Reservoir low for this time of year?

Compared with every September in our records, the current level is higher than 92% 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 Potholes Reservoir 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. Potholes Reservoir has risen 0.32 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 Potholes Reservoir changed over the past year?

Potholes Reservoir is +0.38 ft compared with this date last year (1028.99 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 4 years, with a record high of 1046.62 ft and a record low of 1025.85 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Potholes Reservoir stood at 1,028.99 feet on Sep 30, 2026. That is higher than 92% of September readings since 2022.

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

potholes-reservoir-wa-water-level-history.csv

2,000 readings, Mar 5, 2022 to Sep 30, 2026. Readings are irregular, not daily. Columns: date, water_level_ft. 39 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Potholes Reservoir water level, 2022 to 2026,” data from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/wa/potholes-reservoir/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.

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