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Rathbun Lake Water Level Today

Daily level, distance to full pool and history for Rathbun Lake, on the Chariton River in Iowa.

Updated · Source: US Army Corps of EngineersUSACE Provisional

Water level Provisional

906.79ft

msl · 5:00 PM CST, Nov 8, 2026

  • 2.79 ftabove full pool (904.0 ft)
  • 253,967acre-ft in storage
  • −0.06 ftin 24 h+1.02 ft in 7 days−0.51 ft in 30 days
904906908910904906908910
  • Full pool
  • 1 yr ago

Is Rathbun Lake full?

Yes. Rathbun Lake is at full pool and 2.79 ft into its flood pool.

Rathbun Lake level history

Full pool 904.0 ft
View data table
DateLevel (ft)% full
Nov 8, 2026906.79—
Nov 7, 2026906.86—
Nov 6, 2026906.89—
Nov 5, 2026906.77—
Nov 4, 2026906.36—
Nov 3, 2026905.87—
Nov 2, 2026905.77—
Nov 1, 2026905.77—
Oct 31, 2026905.75—
Oct 30, 2026905.69—
Oct 29, 2026905.69—
Oct 28, 2026905.69—
Oct 27, 2026905.71—
Oct 26, 2026905.72—
Oct 25, 2026905.73—
Oct 24, 2026905.73—
Oct 23, 2026905.75—
Oct 22, 2026905.81—
Oct 21, 2026905.89—
Oct 20, 2026905.96—
Oct 19, 2026906.05—
Oct 18, 2026906.19—
Oct 17, 2026906.35—
Oct 16, 2026906.55—
Oct 15, 2026906.67—
Oct 14, 2026906.80—
Oct 13, 2026906.92—
Oct 12, 2026907.01—
Oct 11, 2026907.11—
Oct 10, 2026907.20—
Oct 9, 2026907.30—
  • Rathbun Lake level
  • Full pool 904.0 ft
  • Above full pool
Source: USACE · Daily averages since 1996

Rathbun Lake on Nov 8 in past years

Rathbun Lake water level on Nov 8 in past years
YearLevel (ft)vs todayvs full pool
2026today906.79—+2.79 ft
2025904.60−2.19+0.60 ft
2024903.46−3.33−0.54 ft
2023902.74−4.05−1.26 ft
2022903.73−3.06−0.27 ft
2021905.58−1.21+1.58 ft
2020903.21−3.58−0.79 ft
2019905.55−1.24+1.55 ft
2018908.63+1.84+4.63 ft
2017903.59−3.20−0.41 ft
2016904.54−2.25+0.54 ft

Today’s level is the highest for this date since 2018.

Lake facts

Full pool (conservation pool)
904.0 ft msl
Top of flood pool
926.0 ft msl
Bottom of conservation pool
857.0 ft msl
Highest since 1996
926.70 ftJul 24, 2010
Lowest since 1996
899.86 ftNov 27, 2006
Data since
Sep 26, 1996
Dam
Rathbun Damcompleted 1969
River
Chariton River
Operated by
US Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District
Dam location
Appanoose County
Gauge location
40.8261, −92.8873

Dam, river and owner from the National Inventory of Dams (USACE). Records cover Sep 26, 1996 to today (daily averages).

Weather on the lake

  1. Tonight39°FLowW 1–5 mphMostly Clear
  2. Monday65°FHighLow 44°FSSW 1–9 mphSunny
  3. Tuesday64°FHighLow 46°FNNE 1 mphSunny
  4. Wednesday59°FHighLow 38°FNW 3–13 mphPartly Sunny
  5. Thursday47°FHighLow 28°FN 8–14 mphMostly Sunny
  6. Friday46°FHighLow 30°FNNW 5 mphSunny
  7. Saturday53°FHighLow 38°FSW 3 mphSunny

Forecast: National Weather Service for the dam area (40.83, −92.89). Wind speeds are forecasts, not measurements.

Nearby lakes

Quick answers

What is the full pool level of Rathbun Lake?
904.0 ft above mean sea level, the top of its conservation pool. Above it, water is held in the flood pool (up to 926.0 ft) and released through Rathbun Dam when conditions downstream allow.
Is Rathbun Lake above full pool?
Yes. On Nov 8, 2026 it was 2.79 ft above full pool, in the flood pool. Operators release that water downstream when conditions allow.
Is Rathbun Lake rising or falling?
It is rising: +1.02 ft in the last 7 days and −0.06 ft in 24 hours, to 906.79 ft on 5:00 PM CST, Nov 8, 2026 (US Army Corps of Engineers).
What is the highest level in our data?
Rathbun Lake reached 926.70 ft on Jul 24, 2010. The lowest was 899.86 ft on Nov 27, 2006 (USACE data since 1996; older records are not in this data set).
How much has Rathbun Lake changed in the last year?
In the last 12 months it ranged from 904.10 ft (Dec 22, 2025) to 910.91 ft (Jun 15, 2026), a swing of 6.81 ft.
How often is this page updated?
This page is updated several times a day with the latest reading from US Army Corps of Engineers. The last reading is from 5:00 PM CST, Nov 8, 2026.

Where this data comes from

Hourly pool elevation from the US Army Corps of Engineers (water.usace.army.mil). Recent readings are provisional and may be revised. Weather from the National Weather Service. Dam details from the National Inventory of Dams.

Lake Levels Daily is an independent site, not affiliated with TWDB, LCRA, USACE, USGS, NOAA, TVA or any lake operator. Check official sources before making safety decisions.