Glossary
Gauge
A gauge reports stage—how high water sits at a sensor, in feet relative to a stated datum. Pool-guide elevations describe operating targets; the gauge tells you where the lake is right now relative to those targets.
Published May 16, 2026 · Editorial standards
Why it matters
Before you launch, you want today's stage against full pool and any hazard thresholds. After storms, you want the trend (rising/falling) and the authority behind the number—USACE, USGS, NOAA NWPS, or utility SCADA.
Technical context
Stage is not discharge. A level can hold steady while cfs through the dam changes dramatically. Pair gauge readings with release data when evaluating current in tailraces.
On real lakes
Related lake intelligence
Pleasant Hill Lake
/lakes/pleasant-hill
Open Pleasant Hill Lake for live stage, active data sources, and the vertical reference beside each reading. Published levels use NGVD29 relative to MSL unless the lake page notes otherwise.
Related lake intelligence
Lake J.B. Thomas
/lakes/j-b-thomas
Open Lake J.B. Thomas for live stage, active data sources, and the vertical reference beside each reading. Published levels use NGVD29 relative to MSL unless the lake page notes otherwise.
Related lake intelligence
Lake Sharpe
/lakes/sharpe
Open Lake Sharpe for live stage, active data sources, and the vertical reference beside each reading. Published levels use NGVD29 relative to MSL unless the lake page notes otherwise.
- Why doesn't the gauge match the pool guide foot line?
They answer different questions: the guide line is a target; the gauge is a measurement at a point, in a datum. Compare gauge to full pool only with matching datum labels.
Related terms: Stage · Pool guide · Datum · Full pool · Flood stage · Streamgage · USGS · NOAA
Reference information only. See data sources, editorial standards, or suggest a correction.