Compare Lake Powell levels across three years
The recent chart and the three-year comparison use the same official daily readings. The comparison summarizes observations into monthly averages so you can see seasonal patterns.
Each point averages the available daily water levels within a month. Both this comparison and the recent water-level chart use the same official observations. Missing months are not estimated. Data details ↗
Annual Lake Powell elevations, 1963 to today
Explore highs, lows and averages from every available year of the official historical elevation records. The partial current year is labeled. Individual yearly extrema are not all-time instantaneous peaks.
Lake Powell annual water levels, 1963–2026
Yearly highs, lows and averages · feet (NGVD29)
| Year | Observations | Lowest (ft) | Highest (ft) | Mean (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 * | 290 | 3,516.62 | 3,540.17 | 3,526.50 |
| 2025 | 365 | 3,540.31 | 3,571.83 | 3,554.97 |
| 2024 | 366 | 3,558.21 | 3,587.17 | 3,572.20 |
| 2023 | 365 | 3,519.92 | 3,584.68 | 3,554.84 |
| 2022 | 365 | 3,522.24 | 3,539.84 | 3,530.15 |
| 2021 | 365 | 3,537.33 | 3,582.06 | 3,557.57 |
| 2020 | 366 | 3,582.21 | 3,611.02 | 3,600.11 |
| 2019 | 365 | 3,568.51 | 3,621.68 | 3,596.95 |
| 2018 | 365 | 3,581.85 | 3,622.74 | 3,604.11 |
| 2017 | 365 | 3,593.85 | 3,635.80 | 3,616.94 |
| 2016 | 366 | 3,591.14 | 3,621.45 | 3,604.74 |
| 2015 | 365 | 3,589.82 | 3,614.32 | 3,601.47 |
| 2014 | 365 | 3,574.21 | 3,609.68 | 3,593.79 |
| 2013 | 365 | 3,584.43 | 3,609.62 | 3,595.83 |
| 2012 | 366 | 3,609.82 | 3,639.63 | 3,628.87 |
| 2011 | 365 | 3,609.70 | 3,660.90 | 3,635.90 |
| 2010 | 365 | 3,618.62 | 3,638.82 | 3,628.63 |
| 2009 | 365 | 3,609.70 | 3,642.30 | 3,626.56 |
| 2008 | 366 | 3,588.24 | 3,633.72 | 3,612.42 |
| 2007 | 365 | 3,594.64 | 3,611.68 | 3,602.38 |
| 2006 | 365 | 3,588.66 | 3,610.87 | 3,600.83 |
| 2005 | 365 | 3,555.10 | 3,608.38 | 3,585.85 |
| 2004 | 366 | 3,564.42 | 3,597.06 | 3,579.87 |
| 2003 | 365 | 3,597.22 | 3,619.94 | 3,607.89 |
| 2002 | 365 | 3,620.10 | 3,656.08 | 3,637.85 |
| 2001 | 365 | 3,656.17 | 3,673.02 | 3,665.32 |
| 2000 | 366 | 3,669.89 | 3,683.40 | 3,678.11 |
| 1999 | 365 | 3,677.20 | 3,694.73 | 3,685.45 |
| 1998 | 365 | 3,672.81 | 3,697.06 | 3,684.95 |
| 1997 | 365 | 3,663.08 | 3,695.09 | 3,680.55 |
| 1996 | 366 | 3,671.79 | 3,688.31 | 3,679.10 |
| 1995 | 365 | 3,644.59 | 3,693.75 | 3,669.13 |
| 1994 | 365 | 3,650.02 | 3,665.75 | 3,656.76 |
| 1993 | 365 | 3,612.46 | 3,668.70 | 3,644.78 |
| 1992 | 366 | 3,615.91 | 3,634.01 | 3,623.88 |
| 1991 | 365 | 3,624.55 | 3,639.02 | 3,630.31 |
| 1990 | 365 | 3,633.48 | 3,658.42 | 3,646.14 |
| 1989 | 365 | 3,658.46 | 3,679.73 | 3,671.58 |
| 1988 | 366 | 3,679.76 | 3,693.31 | 3,685.41 |
| 1987 | 365 | 3,677.47 | 3,698.47 | 3,687.55 |
| 1986 | 365 | 3,680.68 | 3,700.02 | 3,688.47 |
| 1985 | 365 | 3,674.82 | 3,700.12 | 3,687.18 |
| 1984 | 366 | 3,672.99 | 3,702.46 | 3,688.25 |
| 1983 | 365 | 3,682.01 | 3,708.34 | 3,693.24 |
| 1982 | 365 | 3,661.89 | 3,687.83 | 3,677.34 |
| 1981 | 365 | 3,667.47 | 3,681.38 | 3,676.01 |
| 1980 | 366 | 3,672.45 | 3,700.59 | 3,684.38 |
| 1979 | 365 | 3,626.93 | 3,684.77 | 3,660.79 |
| 1978 | 365 | 3,622.29 | 3,652.75 | 3,635.53 |
| 1977 | 365 | 3,630.05 | 3,655.40 | 3,646.33 |
| 1976 | 366 | 3,655.31 | 3,672.27 | 3,665.36 |
| 1975 | 365 | 3,645.34 | 3,674.93 | 3,659.70 |
| 1974 | 365 | 3,646.92 | 3,667.35 | 3,654.08 |
| 1973 | 365 | 3,590.60 | 3,648.84 | 3,625.13 |
| 1972 | 366 | 3,603.02 | 3,619.71 | 3,610.51 |
| 1971 | 365 | 3,598.80 | 3,622.34 | 3,610.15 |
| 1970 | 365 | 3,566.62 | 3,601.77 | 3,587.02 |
| 1969 | 365 | 3,539.39 | 3,581.18 | 3,563.80 |
| 1968 | 366 | 3,513.30 | 3,550.38 | 3,534.77 |
| 1967 | 365 | 3,502.23 | 3,532.85 | 3,521.68 |
| 1966 | 365 | 3,521.45 | 3,545.68 | 3,534.94 |
| 1965 | 365 | 3,490.76 | 3,534.63 | 3,511.64 |
| 1964 | 366 | 3,394.50 | 3,491.99 | 3,453.47 |
| 1963 * | 4 | 3,409.00 | 3,409.60 | 3,409.30 |
* Partial years or years with fewer than 350 available daily observations. Yearly extremes come from available daily readings, not continuous 15-minute measurements. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026; latest archived observation 2026-10-17. Historical records may be revised. How we calculate these figures ↗
How far back do Lake Powell records go?
Official Lake Powell daily water-level records begin in December 1963. The annual statistics above summarize 22,940 archived daily observations. The recent chart, seasonal comparison and historical table all use the same water-level source, but the annual and monthly summaries average or select recorded daily values. About these records →
Why levels change over time
Spring and early-summer snowmelt across the Upper Colorado River Basin can increase inflows. Reservoir releases and precipitation patterns influence water level across the rest of the year. Long-term drought, warming and operating decisions also affect storage.
How to compare years fairly
For meaningful comparisons, check whether you are viewing an individual daily reading, a monthly average or a yearly high or low. Always compare the same type of measurement and elevation reference.
Return to the latest Lake Powell elevation
See the observed water level, changes and source observation time.
Lake Powell water level today →