Bighorn Lake lake and shoreline

Bighorn Lake Water Level

MontanaWyoming

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Bighorn Lake

Bighorn Lake is currently 13.6 feet below full pool, with a water-surface elevation of 3626.4 feet.

3626.41 ft · Updated 5 hours ago · USACE NWO District

Current level

3,626.41ft

−13.59 ft vs full pool

Low

Vs full pool

Since last reading

Down 0.04 ft

Previous readingOct 243,626.47 ft

7-day change

Up 0.11 ft

7-day trend: Rising

8 daily readings in the last 7 days

30-day change

Up 2.49 ft

29 daily readings in the last 30 days

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Water Level History

Current
3626.41 ft
24h
-0.04 ft
7d
+0.11 ft
30d
+2.49 ft

Elevation (ft) NGVD29 · MSL

Reference line is designed full pool.

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Lake Level Context

Level remains below the full pool

Bighorn Lake is currently 3626.41 ft, 13.59 ft below its full pool. The lake has risen 0.11 ft over the past 7 days and 2.49 ft over the past 30 days.

Bighorn Lake Level Details

Reference elevations, recent daily readings, data sources, and answers to common questions.

Conditions & Reference

Level status

13.59 ft below full pool

Current level
3,626.41 ft
Full pool
3,640 ft
DatumElevation referenced to National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929.
NGVD29
Elevation reference
MSL
Source
USACE NWO District

Reference levels

  • Full pool3,640 ft

Surrounding county drought

Moderate Drought

89.4% of surrounding county in official drought (D1–D4).

Severity

NoneExtreme
Trend
Stable

Surrounding county drought

Big Horn County, MT

Moderate Drought

Moderate Drought. The largest share of Big Horn County, MT is in Moderate Drought (D1), an official USDM drought category. These figures describe the surrounding county from the lake location, not the lake itself.. Trend: Stable compared with last week. Official drought (D1–D4) yes

Severity

NoneExtreme

Weekly trend

Stable

Compared with last week

Official drought (D1–D4)

Yes

89.4% of the surrounding county is in official drought categories (D1–D4). Dominant category remains Moderate Drought.

Typical county impacts (USDM guidance)

  • Streamflows in the surrounding county may run below normal
  • Soils and vegetation can dry between rain events
  • Water managers may begin to watch supply more closely

U.S. Drought Monitor · map date Oct 20, 2026. Updated weekly. Official drought means U.S. Drought Monitor categories D1–D4 (Moderate through Exceptional). Abnormally Dry (D0) is not counted as official drought. droughtmonitor.unl.eduView drought map for Big Horn County, MT

Daily level summary

DateLevelChange
Oct 25, 20263,626.43-0.04
Oct 24, 20263,626.47+0.02
Oct 23, 20263,626.45-0.07
Oct 22, 20263,626.52+0.02
Oct 21, 20263,626.5+0.05
Oct 20, 20263,626.45+0.03
Oct 19, 20263,626.42+0.1

Common questions about Bighorn Lake’s water level

  • The current water level at Bighorn Lake is 3,626.41 ft (updated 5 hours ago). You can track the Bighorn Lake lake level on the interactive chart and daily history above.

  • Full pool for Bighorn Lake is 3,640 ft — the normal conservation target elevation when the reservoir is at its designed summer or operating pool.

  • The current 7-day trend for the Bighorn Lake lake level is rising — rising about 0.11 ft over the past week. See the history chart above for the full picture.

  • Based on the latest gauge reading, Bighorn Lake is currently 13.59 ft below full pool.

Lake level glossary

Definitions for pool targets, datums, and how elevation readings are labeled.

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