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Lake Monona Water Level Today

Daily level, changes and history for Lake Monona, on the Yahara River in Wisconsin.

Updated · Source: USGS 05429000 Provisional

Water level Provisional

844.47ft

msl · 9:00 AM CST, Nov 9, 2026

  • −0.05 ftin 24 h−0.31 ft in 7 days−0.54 ft in 30 days
844846848844846848
  • 1 yr ago

Is Lake Monona full?

Lake Monona is a natural lake on the Yahara River. Dane County regulates it with the Babcock Park lock and dam, aiming to keep it between 844.7 and 845.2 ft in summer under a Wisconsin DNR order, but there is no full pool; the page compares the level with past years and with that summer range. It is 0.02 ft higher than a year ago (844.45 ft on Nov 9, 2025).

Lake Monona level history

View data table
DateLevel (ft)
Nov 9, 2026844.47
Nov 8, 2026844.51
Nov 7, 2026844.58
Nov 6, 2026844.66
Nov 5, 2026844.73
Nov 4, 2026844.80
Nov 3, 2026844.82
Nov 2, 2026844.78
Nov 1, 2026844.78
Oct 31, 2026844.78
Oct 30, 2026844.79
Oct 29, 2026844.82
Oct 28, 2026844.84
Oct 27, 2026844.85
Oct 26, 2026844.86
Oct 25, 2026844.87
Oct 24, 2026844.89
Oct 23, 2026844.92
Oct 22, 2026844.93
Oct 21, 2026844.95
Oct 20, 2026844.94
Oct 19, 2026844.94
Oct 18, 2026844.94
Oct 17, 2026844.94
Oct 16, 2026844.97
Oct 15, 2026844.96
Oct 14, 2026844.95
Oct 13, 2026844.96
Oct 12, 2026844.98
Oct 11, 2026845.00
Oct 10, 2026845.01
  • Lake Monona level
Source: USGS · Daily averages since 1979

Lake Monona on Nov 9 in past years

Lake Monona water level on Nov 9 in past years
YearLevel (ft)vs today
2026today844.47—
2025844.45−0.02
2024844.83+0.36
2023844.79+0.32
2022845.00+0.53
2021844.65+0.18
2020845.24+0.77
2019846.47+2.00
2018846.59+2.12
2017844.99+0.52
2016845.68+1.21

Today’s level is the highest for this date since 2024.

Lake facts

Highest since 1979
848.52 ftSep 6, 2018
Lowest since 1979
843.42 ftMar 4, 2026
Data since
Oct 1, 1979
Dam
Babcock Park Lock and Dam
River
Yahara River
Gauge location
43.0633, −89.3971

Records cover Oct 1, 1979 to today (daily averages).

Lake Monona map and depth

  • Level gauge
Shoreline © OpenStreetMap contributors · Open the full map
Surface area
about 3,390 acresmeasured on the OpenStreetMap outline

The outline shows the mapped shoreline, not today’s water line: when the lake is low, the water stands back from it.

Weather on the lake

  1. Today60°FHighLow 40°FSW 5–10 mphMostly Sunny
  2. Tonight40°FLowW 5–10 mphMostly Clear
  3. Tuesday60°FHighLow 40°FNW 0–5 mphMostly Sunny
  4. Wednesday53°FHighLow 34°FNE 0–10 mphChance Rain Showers
  5. Thursday44°FHighLow 28°FN 15 mphPartly Sunny
  6. Friday42°FHighLow 26°FN 5–15 mphMostly Sunny
  7. Saturday47°FHighLow 31°FNW 5 mphSunny

Forecast: National Weather Service for the dam area (43.06, −89.40). Wind speeds are forecasts, not measurements.

Nearby lakes

Quick answers

Is Lake Monona rising or falling?
It is falling: −0.31 ft in the last 7 days and −0.05 ft in 24 hours, to 844.47 ft on 9:00 AM CST, Nov 9, 2026 (US Geological Survey).
What is the highest level in our data?
Lake Monona reached 848.52 ft on Sep 6, 2018. The lowest was 843.42 ft on Mar 4, 2026 (USGS data since 1979; older records are not in this data set).
How much has Lake Monona changed in the last year?
In the last 12 months it ranged from 843.42 ft (Mar 4, 2026) to 845.45 ft (Sep 21, 2026), a swing of 2.03 ft.
How often is this page updated?
This page is updated several times a day with the latest reading from US Geological Survey. The last reading is from 9:00 AM CST, Nov 9, 2026.

Where this data comes from

Reservoir gauge 05429000 of the US Geological Survey (waterdata.usgs.gov). Recent readings are provisional and may be revised. Weather from the National Weather Service.

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.