Glossary
MSL
MSL (mean sea level) is a tidal and charting concept: a long-term average sea surface used for nautical charts and coastal datums. Inland pool guides citing NAVD 88 or NGVD 29 are using geodetic vertical datums—not interchangeable "MSL" labels without a published tie.
Published May 16, 2026 · Editorial standards
Related lake intelligence
Grand Bayou Reservoir
/lakes/grand-bayou-la
Grand Bayou Reservoir catalogs elevation reference MSL—compare only to readings using the same labels.
Related lake intelligence
Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir
/lakes/kirwan
Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir catalogs elevation reference MSL—compare only to readings using the same labels.
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Mark Twain Lake
/lakes/mark-twain
Reference information only. See data sources, editorial standards, or suggest a correction.

