Lakes & Dams · Gillham, AR
Gillham Lake water level — live
Current elevation, release status at Gillham Dam, and the tailwater on Cossatot River, straight from the dam's own satellite telemetry. Last reported 14 minutes ago
Lake elevation
501.11 ft
That is 0.89 ft below conservation pool (502.00 ft). The pool has fallen 0.13 ft over the last 48 hours.
Gillham Dam
Flood-control dam
No powerhouse here — releases go through outlet gates. Watch the tailwater to see water moving.
Tailwater
—
Stage immediately below the dam on Cossatot River.
Pool elevation, last 48 hours
Range: 501.11–501.25 ft · 188 satellite reports
Is Gillham Dam releasing water right now?
Gillham Dam is a flood-control dam with no powerhouse — it never "generates." Releases are made through outlet gates, and the best live signal is the tailwater stage below the dam. A rising tailwater means the Corps is releasing stored flood water into Cossatot River.
About Gillham Lake
Gillham Lake impounds the Cossatot River, the “skull crusher” of Arkansas whitewater. Paddlers downstream and anglers on the lake both live and die by what the dam is releasing.
This page is watched by whitewater paddlers on the Cossatot, bass anglers, and campers. Below the dam is the Cossatot River, Arkansas’ most famous whitewater run, below the dam.
Gillham Lake area: Gillham, Wickes, Cove, De Queen. Whether you keep a boat at the marina, own a dock, guide the tailwater, or farm downstream, this is the same live telemetry the dam itself reports.
Frequently asked
What is the water level at Gillham Lake today?
Gillham Lake is at 501.11 ft (reported 14 minutes ago). That is 0.89 ft below conservation pool (502.00 ft). The pool has fallen 0.13 ft over the last 48 hours.
Is Gillham Dam releasing water right now?
Gillham Dam is a flood-control dam with no powerhouse — it never "generates." Releases are made through outlet gates, and the best live signal is the tailwater stage below the dam. A rising tailwater means the Corps is releasing stored flood water into Cossatot River.
What is the normal (conservation) pool for Gillham Lake?
Conservation pool is 502.00 ft and the top of flood pool is 569.00 ft, per the USACE Little Rock District. Between those elevations, the lake is storing flood water that the Corps will release downstream over time.
How current is this data?
GaugeKeep reads the dam’s own GOES satellite telemetry — the same feed the Corps of Engineers uses — and updates within minutes of each transmission, typically every 15 minutes to 1 hour per station.
How do I get an alert when Gillham Lake hits a certain level?
Create a free GaugeKeep account, track Gillham Dam, and set a threshold on pool or tailwater elevation. We email you the moment a report crosses your line — before you tow the boat or step in the river.
Never get surprised by this lake again
Track Gillham Dam with a free account and get an email the moment the pool, the tailwater, or the release status crosses the line you care about.
Data: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers GOES satellite telemetry, decoded by GaugeKeep. Pool bands: USACE Little Rock District. Not a substitute for official navigation or safety guidance; conditions below dams change without warning.