Pactola Reservoir Water Level Today
South Dakota · near Rapid City · Below full pool
- Elevation
- 4,558.11 ft
- From full pool
- −22.09 ft
- Percent of pool
- 82.2%
- 24-hour change
- +0.11 ft
- 7-day change
- −0.09 ft
- Reading
- Sep 21, 2026 · USACE
Last year at Pactola Reservoir
Pactola Reservoir is 22.09 ft below full pool, at 4,558.11 ft, up 0.11 ft in the last 24 hours. That puts the lake at 82.2 percent of its conservation pool. The top of the flood pool is 63.4 ft higher, at 4,621.50 ft.
Over the last 7 days the level fell 0.09 ft, and over 30 days it fell 1.56 ft. In the 400 days of readings on this page the high was 4,571.84 ft on Aug 18, 2025 and the low was 4,557.93 ft on Sep 19, 2026, a range of 13.91 ft.
The reading is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gauge at Pactola Dam & Reservoir, near Rapid City, taken Sep 21, 2026 and referenced to the LOCAL datum. This page is rebuilt once a day from the agency feed; it is not a live gauge, so during a fast rise or a scheduled release check the USACE page for hourly values.
Pactola Reservoir pool elevations
| Current elevation | 4,558.11 ft |
|---|---|
| Full pool (top of conservation) | 4,580.20 ft |
| Top of flood pool | 4,621.50 ft |
| Bottom of conservation pool | 4,456.10 ft |
| Top of dam | 4,655.00 ft |
| Inflow | 82 cfs |
| Outflow | 30 cfs |
| 30-day change | −1.56 ft |
| 1-year high | 4,571.84 ft (Aug 18, 2025) |
| 1-year low | 4,557.93 ft (Sep 19, 2026) |
| Vertical datum | LOCAL |
| Operating agency | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NWO district |
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Read what full pool and flood pool mean.
More lakes in South Dakota
- Lake Oahe 1,592.17 ft, −15.33 ft from full
- Lake Francis Case 1,353.60 ft, +3.60 ft from full
- Lewis and Clark Lake 1,207.51 ft, +3.01 ft from full
- Lake Sharpe 1,420.87 ft, +0.87 ft from full
- Cold Brook Reservoir 3,585.27 ft, +0.27 ft from full
- Cottonwood Springs Reservoir 3,848.73 ft, −26.27 ft from full
Pactola Reservoir level questions
What is the water level of Pactola Reservoir today?
Pactola Reservoir is at 4,558.11 ft as of Sep 21, 2026, −22.09 ft relative to full pool (4,580.20 ft). The 24-hour change is +0.11 ft.
What is full pool at Pactola Reservoir?
Full pool, the top of the conservation pool, is 4,580.20 ft (LOCAL). Above that, water is stored temporarily in the flood pool up to 4,621.50 ft. The bottom of the conservation pool is 4,456.10 ft.
Is Pactola Reservoir rising or falling?
Over the last 24 hours the level is +0.11 ft; over 7 days it fell 0.09 ft, and over 30 days it fell 1.56 ft.
Where does this Pactola Reservoir level come from?
From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) public data feed for Pactola Dam & Reservoir. Lake Levels Today republishes the agency's daily value without adjustment and links to the source below.