Guides · Lakes & Boating
Arkansas Lake Levels Today: Are the Lakes Up or Down?
Before you hitch up the boat, the question is simple: is the lake up, down, or right where you left it? Here is how to check today’s level on any major Arkansas lake, and what "conservation pool" and "flood pool" actually mean.
What "lake level" really means
A lake’s level is its pool elevation — the height of the water surface above sea level, in feet. The Corps of Engineers manages most Arkansas lakes between two marks: the conservation pool (the normal, target level) and the top of flood pool (the highest the lake is designed to hold before it must release water downstream). Between those two, the lake is storing flood water on purpose.
Up or down — why it matters
A lake several feet above conservation pool can mean flooded ramps, submerged docks, floating debris, and hazards you cannot see. A lake well below normal can mean ramps that no longer reach the water and newly exposed stumps and rock. Both change where you can launch and how you should run the lake.
Check today’s level on the lake you fish
GaugeKeep shows live pool elevation for the major Arkansas lakes, decoded from the dam’s own satellite telemetry and updated within minutes of each report — with a 48-hour trend so you can see whether the lake is rising or falling. Each lake has its own page with the current number and what it means.
- Bull Shoals, Norfork, Greers Ferry, Beaver, Table Rock — the trout-tailwater lakes.
- Lake Dardanelle and the Arkansas River pools.
- Millwood, Nimrod, Blue Mountain, DeQueen, Dierks, Gillham — flood-control lakes.
Frequently asked
What is the lake level today?
GaugeKeep publishes live pool elevation for each major Arkansas lake, updated within minutes of the dam’s latest satellite report, with a 48-hour trend. Open the lake’s page or the live map to see today’s number.
Is the lake up or down?
Compare the live pool elevation to the conservation (normal) pool shown on each lake page. Above it, the lake is high and storing flood water; below it, the lake is drawn down. GaugeKeep shows the trend so you can tell if it is rising or falling.
What is the difference between conservation pool and flood pool?
Conservation pool is the normal target level. The top of flood pool is the highest the lake is designed to hold before the Corps must release water downstream. Between them, the lake is temporarily storing flood water.
Get the alert before the water moves
Track any Arkansas gauge with a free GaugeKeep account and get an email the moment the level crosses the line you care about. No card needed.
Data: official USGS, National Weather Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers telemetry, decoded by GaugeKeep. Educational information only — not a substitute for official navigation, flood, or safety guidance. Conditions below dams change without warning.